SANTA FE, Argentina — Argentine racing legend Carlos Reutemann has died after spending more than a month in the hospital. He was 79 years old.
Reutemann was the runner-up for the 1981 Formula 1 world driving championship.
Reutemann’s recent health problems were complications from liver cancer, which he was diagnosed with in 2017.
Driving for teams including Brabham, Ferrari, Lotus and Williams, Reutemann won 12 grands prix during a 10-year span. He also finished on the podium 46 times and earned six poles.
While driving for Williams in 1981, Reutemann led the standings for much of the season and finished one point behind world champion Nelson Piquet.
Reutemann finished third in the standings three times.
Retiring two races into the 1982 Formula 1 season, Reutemann turned his attention to politics. He served two terms as governor of the Santa Fe province and was a member of the Argentine Senate from 2003 until his death.