Patrick Tambay Former Formula 1 Driver Died At The Age Of 73

Tambay was best known for his emotional season and a half with Ferrari in 1982 and 1983, as well as how his career was intertwined with that of his friend, the legendary Gilles Villeneuve.

Patrick Tambay Former Formula 1 Driver Died At The Age Of 73 - SportRazzi
Patrick Tambay Former Formula 1 Driver Died At The Age Of 73.

From 1977 to 1986, Patrick Tambay competed in 114 races for teams such as McLaren, Ferrari, and Renault, winning two grand prix.

Tambay, who had Parkinson’s Disease, was best known for his association with Ferrari.

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He was a key figure in a generation of top French Formula One drivers that included Alain Prost, Rene Arnoux, Didier Pironi, and Jacques Laffite.

Tambay was best known for his emotional season and a half with Ferrari in 1982 and 1983, as well as how his career was intertwined with that of his friend, the legendary Gilles Villeneuve.

At the 1977 British Grand Prix, the pair made their grand prix debuts, Villeneuve for McLaren and Tambay for Theodore.

Despite Villeneuve’s starring debut at Silverstone, which has gone down in F1 history, McLaren preferred Tambay for a full-time drive in 1978.

This allowed Villeneuve to join Ferrari, where he became an iconic figure for his bravery, speed, and daringly acrobatic style in just over four seasons.

Tambay’s career, on the other hand, came to a halt after two years with McLaren, when he returned to struggling Theodore for 1980, before finishing the second half of 1981 with a move to Ligier.

When Jacques Villeneuve was killed in a horrific crash during qualifying for the 1982 Belgian Grand Prix, Ferrari turned to Tambay as his replacement.

Tambay debuted for the team at the Dutch Grand Prix alongside Pironi, whose victory at Zandvoort cemented his position as championship favorite.

However, three races later, Pironi suffered career-ending leg injuries in a qualifying crash in Germany that bore striking similarities to the accident that killed Villeneuve.

Tambay won the race the next day in a car bearing Villeneuve’s famous number 27, and quickly won the hearts of the famous Ferrari fans, the tifosi.

“We are all truly saddened by the news of the passing of Patrick Tambay,” read a Ferrari statement.

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“He was one of the true stars of the 80s, winning two races with the Scuderia and contributing to winning the manufacturers’ titles in 1982 and 1983.”

His place as a Ferrari hero was cemented at the 1983 San Marino Grand Prix.

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