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Vittorio Brambilla
Nationality	Italian
World Championship Career
Active years	1974 - 1980
Team(s)	March, Surtees and Alfa Romeo
Races	79
Championships	0
Wins	1
Podium finishes	1
Pole positions	1
Fastest laps	1
First race	1974 South African Grand Prix
First win	1975 Austrian Grand Prix
Last win	1975 Austrian Grand Prix
Last race	1980 Italian Grand Prix

Vittorio Brambilla (born November 11, 1937 in Monza, died May 26, 2001 in Lesmo, Milan) was a Formula One driver from Italy who raced for the March, Surtees and Alfa Romeo teams. His nickname was "The Monza Gorilla".

Brambilla driving for Surtees at the 1978 British Grand Prix.

Brambilla began racing motorcycles in 1957 and won the Italian national 175cc title in 1958. Before becoming a mechanic he also raced go-karts. He returned to racing in 1968, in Formula 3 and won the Italian championship in 1972; by the time he was already racing Formula 2, where he won several races and bought his way into Formula 1. His great day came at the Österreichring in 1975, when he got a victory in a wet Austrian Grand Prix. He is best remembered for spinning off and wrecking the nose of his car as he took the chequered flag and completing his slowing down lap with the front of the car destroyed and waving madly to the crowd. As the race was shortened, he only received 4.5 points instead of 9 for the win. In fact, the chequered flag was flown in error for the red. During the next two years he suffered several accidents and mechanical retirements, including while leading from the pole at Anderstorp, Sweden. At the same time he also drove for the Alfa Romeo sports car team in 1977, achieving the World Championship for the team.

He was known for his 'Punch and Crunch' routine, in which, he would greet the unfortunate victim with an extremely strong handshake. He enjoyed watching the recipient wince whilst they were shaking hands. He would then follow this up with a rabbit punch to the back of one's neck.

In a multiple pileup at Monza in the 1978 Italian Grand Prix, in which Ronnie Peterson died, Brambilla suffered serious head injuries, but recovered to drive briefly for the Alfa Romeo F1 team in 1979 and 1980, before retiring.

He died of a heart attack at the age of 63 while gardening at his home. He reportedly collapsed while mowing the lawn. [1], [2]

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

* Half points awarded for shortened race