Motorsport world mourns
Ex-formula 1 driver Jochen Mass is dead
Updated on 04.05.2025 – 9:35 p.m.Reading time: 2 min.
In addition to the “premier class”, he also drove in other racing series, celebrated success. Now Jochen Mass has died.
The former Formula 1 driver Jochen Mass is dead. The racing driver from Dorfen in Upper Bavaria died on Sunday in Cannes at the age of 78 of the consequences of a stroke that he suffered in February, as the family of the German press agency confirmed.
Between 1973 and 1982 Mass completed a total of 105 Grand Prix in Formula 1, drove from 1974 to 1977 for the traditional racing stable McLaren. He made it to the podium eight times. With 71 World Cup points, Mass was the most successful German in the “premier class” alongside Wolfgang from Trips to the era of Michael Schumacher.
50 years ago on April 27, 1975, he celebrated his only Grand Prix success. In Barcelona he won the Grand Prix of Spain in a McLaren-Ford Cosworth. “It’s like scored a goal in your international career,” said Mass to his only success.
His only Formula 1 victory was also overshadowed by a terrible accident. On Montjuic’s city course, Rolf Stommelen came off the route with his Hill car and shot into the crowd. Several people died.
Mass had celebrated his debut in Formula 1 in 1973, and he started in the 1982 season for the last time. In 1989 he triumphed in a clean mercedes together with Manuel Reuter and Stanley Dickens at the legendary 24 hours of Le Mans.
Formula 1 pursued the former TV expert with “critical interest”-and also as a guide. Mass even recommended Michael Schumacher to switch to Ferrari in 1996 and not to the then superior Williams team. “If you make Ferrari strong again, you will become the king of Italy,” remembered his words. At times in the Mercedes sports car, he had previously shared his knowledge with the young Schumacher.