Gaetano Starrabba

Prince Gaetano Starrabba di Giardinelli (3 December 1932 - Present): Italian racing driver and nobleman from Palermo, Sicily, who participated in one Formula One World Championship Grand Prix. Purchased a Lotus 18 chassis, a competitive car that had won races in the hands of works drivers, and uniquely fitted it with a Maserati four-cylinder engine, creating the only Lotus-Maserati combination ever to compete in the World Championship. Made his sole Formula One appearance at the 1961 Italian Grand Prix at Monza on 10 September 1961, driving his unique Lotus 18-Maserati creation. Qualified 30th on the grid, lapping the 10-kilometer Monza circuit in 3 minutes 7.

9 seconds, approximately 21.6 seconds slower than pole-sitter Wolfgang von Trips' Ferrari, demonstrating the performance gap between privateer and works entries. Started the race from the back of the grid but benefited from the high attrition rate typical of 1960s racing, moving into the top 15 as faster cars retired. His race ended on lap 19 of 43 when his Maserati engine blew, retiring from what would be his only World Championship appearance.

Scored no championship points during his brief Formula One career. Continued racing his Lotus-Maserati in non-championship events, achieving creditable results including sixth place at the 1963 Syracuse Grand Prix and fifth at the 1963 Rome Grand Prix, demonstrating that the car was competitive in lesser events. After retiring from active competition, remained involved in Italian motorsport, particularly in the historic car business and restoration of old racing sports cars. Based in Palermo throughout his life, maintaining connections to Sicilian motorsport and automobile culture.

As of 2025, Prince Starrabba is alive and continues his involvement with historic racing vehicles from his collection. His unique Lotus-Maserati combination remains a curious footnote in Formula One history, representing the creative engineering solutions attempted by privateer entrants trying to compete against better-funded factory teams. Though his Formula One career consisted of a single retirement, Starrabba represented the tradition of Italian aristocrats who competed in motorsport for sporting passion rather than financial necessity.