STORY OF THE DAY: A Podium Lost to the Twin Rear Wing

On 4 April 1982, Gilles Villeneuve crossed the line third in the United States Grand Prix West at Long Beach in Ferrari 126 C2 number 27. The result did not stand: officials upheld a protest against the Ferrari’s rear-wing arrangement, and Villeneuve was disqualified. Niki Lauda won the World Championship race for McLaren.

Ferrari had fitted two offset rear-wing elements, each within the permitted maximum width but together spanning a greater distance. The device was a deliberate challenge to the interpretation of the regulations amid a political struggle between teams and governing bodies. Tyrrell protested, and the stewards excluded the car after the finish.

The 126 C2 was a major advance over the 126 CK, using a lighter and stiffer composite-panel chassis around Ferrari’s twin-turbocharged 1.5-litre V6. Its improved aerodynamics and packaging made it a championship contender, although reliability and the turbo engine’s demanding power delivery remained important concerns.

Canadian Villeneuve had raced for Ferrari since 1977 and was admired for speed, loyalty and uncompromising commitment. At Long Beach he brought a controversial technical experiment to an apparent podium through determined driving. The subsequent disqualification made the day emblematic of Formula One’s volatile technical and political climate in 1982.