BUENOS AIRES — Previous Method One particular driver and Argentine politician Carlos Reutemann, who competed for much more than a 10 years at the top rated of world motorsports, died on Wednesday aged 79.

Reutemann had been through medical procedures in New York for a hepatic tumor in 2017 and struggled to get back entire health and fitness.

“Father left in peace and dignity following preventing like a champion with a solid and noble coronary heart that accompanied him to the conclusion,” his daughter Cora tweeted.

In a job marked by brilliance behind the wheel and stubborn one-mindedness but also a lack of regularity, Reutemann was regarded the greatest Argentine driver following 5-time world champion Juan Manuel Fangio whose heyday was in the 1950s.

The son of a cattle rancher from Santa Fe province, Reutemann completed runner-up in the Method One particular championship to Brazilian Nelson Piquet in 1981 following coming 3rd in 1975, 1978 and 1980.

“He was a large portion of our sport for several yrs and was a fighter to the conclusion. He will be considerably skipped,” Method One particular explained in a assertion.

The Argentine broke into Method One particular in 1972 and joined Bernie Ecclestone’s Brabham staff alongside then 2 times world champion Graham Hill. He manufactured a sensational debut, putting his auto in pole position for his property grand prix in Buenos Aires ahead of finishing seventh.

He also raced for Ferrari, primary the Italian team’s obstacle in 1978 following currently being overshadowed by Niki Lauda in 1977, and then joined Lotus in 1979. That proved a lousy decision, with Ferrari finishing first and second in that year’s championship and Reutemann a distant sixth.

He then moved to Williams in 1980.

“We are saddened to find out of the passing of our previous driver Carlos Reutemann, winner of 3 Grands Prix for Williams all through his job. Our views go out to his spouse and children and pals at this challenging time,” Williams Racing tweeted.

In 1981, he famously dismissed staff instructions in Brazil, refusing to let Alan Jones pass for the acquire, but led the championship forward of the finale in Las Vegas exactly where he qualified on pole.

Reutemann then faded in the race, received by Jones, and Piquet became champion by a one position.

Nicknamed “Lole” in a mangled reference to his enjoy for pigs — “los lechones” in Spanish — he left the sport abruptly following the Brazilian Grand Prix in 1982 possessing raced in 146 grands prix, with twelve wins and forty six podium finishes.

After attempting his hand in the Environment Rally Championship in 1985, Reutemann turned to politics and was elected governor for Santa Fe province, serving 1991-1995 and 1999-2003.

In 2003, he was elected senator for Santa Fe and re-elected in 2009 and 2015. He declined to operate for president in 2002, even nevertheless polls showed he would have been a primary applicant.

Regarded for his indifference to fame, he unsuccessful to demonstrate at his have ebook launch in 1998, following performing for yrs with a ghost author. “That’s Reutemann,” the author Alfredo Parga explained at the time.