Patrick Tambay

Interesting facts

Patrick Tambay started out at the Winfield racing school in 1971 and twice finished runner-up in the European Formula Two Championship. When his F1 career stalled, he dominated the North American Can-Am series under team owner Carl Haas, winning the title in both 1977 and 1980. After Gilles Villeneuve's fatal 1982 accident, Tambay took over the Canadian driver's seat at Ferrari; the two had previously been close friends. He took his maiden Grand Prix win that same season at the German Grand Prix, just four races after joining Maranello. His most emotional victory came at the 1983 San Marino Grand Prix, driving Villeneuve's former car number 27, after Riccardo Patrese crashed late in the race. He finished fourth in the 1983 championship, helping Ferrari to the Constructors' title. After retiring from F1 he became a French television commentator and later deputy mayor of Le Cannet. Patrick Tambay raced in Formula 1 from 1977 to 1986, across 9 seasons as a French driver. He scored a total of 103 championship points over his career.