Patrick Depailler
Patrick Depailler | |
|---|---|
Depailler in 1975 | |
| Born | Patrick André Eugène Joseph Depailler 9 August 1944 Clermont-Ferrand, Puy-de-Dôme, France |
| Died | 1 August 1980 (aged 35) |
| Cause of death | Single vehicle collision whilst testing the Alfa Romeo 179 |
| Formula One World Championship career | |
| Nationality | French |
| Active years | 1972, 1974–1980 |
| Teams | Tyrrell, Ligier, Alfa Romeo |
| Entries | 95 |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 2 |
| Podiums | 19 |
| Career points | 139 (141) |
| Pole positions | 1 |
| Fastest laps | 4 |
| First entry | 1972 French Grand Prix |
| First win | 1978 Monaco Grand Prix |
| Last win | 1979 Spanish Grand Prix |
| Last entry | 1980 British Grand Prix |
Patrick André Eugène Joseph Depailler (French pronunciation: [patʁik ɑ̃dʁe øʒɛn ʒozɛf dəpaje]; 9 August 1944 – 1 August 1980) was a French racing driver, who competed in Formula One from 1972 to 1980. Depailler won two Formula One Grands Prix across eight seasons.
Depailler was born in Clermont-Ferrand, Puy-de-Dôme. As a child, he was inspired by Jean Behra. In Formula One, he joined a Tyrrell team that was beginning a long, slow decline, eventually moving to the erratic Ligier team before finally ending up with the revived Alfa Romeo squad in 1980.
In August 1980, Depailler was killed during a private testing session at the Hockenheimring. He achieved two wins, one pole position, four fastest laps and 19 podiums in Formula One. Depailler jointly holds the record for the most podiums before winning a Grand Prix (15).