Patrick Depailler

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Patrick André Eugène Joseph Depailler (born 9 August 1944 in Clermont-Ferrand, France) is a former Grand Prix racing driver famous for his appearances in Formula One.

Patrick Depailler pictured whilst at Williams in 1978.

Formula One

1976-1977: Ferrari

1976

At the beginning of the season, Depailler was forced to sit on the sidelines as a result of failing to find a drive. However, at the non-championship BRDC International Trophy event Depailler was called upon by Scuderia Ferrari to race alongside Niki Lauda. A good performance from the Frenchman netted Depailler a reserve role at the Scuderia.

Following the death of Niki Lauda at the Soviet Grand Prix, Ferrari withdrew from the French Grand Prix - before returning to the championship at Brands Hatch with Depailler in Lauda's place. Nearly all of Depailler's 1976 outings ended up in retirement, barring the Austrian Grand Prix - which he won - and the Italian Grand Prix, where he came second to teammate Jody Scheckter.

1977

Patrick Depailler returned to the Scuderia for the 1976 season. His season started well, taking pole position at three of the four opening races, though strangely his first win of the year came at the South African Grand Prix - where he did not qualify on pole. Depailler followed Scheckter home for a Ferrari one-two at the Belgian Grand Prix. Depailler would win another race, in The Netherlands, before it was announced that he would be benched by the Scuderia in Italy and Canada in order for them to evaluate a possible replacement for him in 1978. These candidates were Elio de Angelis and Gilles Villeneuve - both of which would impress on their respective trials - with Villeneuve even scoring a maiden win on his debut for Ferrari. Whilst he was shut out of the team for these two races, Depailler would race for the Williams Racing team replacing the injured Alan Jones. Depailler's best result for Williams would be an impressive third in Italy, just one place behind his Ferrari stand-in De Angelis. Depailler returned to Ferrari for the final two Grands Prix of the season, but his relationship with the Prancing Horse had by now broken down entirely. With the team making clear that he would not be in the running for a 1978 race seat, Depailler struggled in the hostile environment, with his best result a solitary 5th place at the Japanese Grand Prix - his final race for Ferrari.

1978-: Williams

1978

With Ferrari signing Gilles Villeneuve for 1978, Depailler found a new home with Williams alongside Alan Jones, after impressing Frank Williams during his stint on loan.

Complete Formula 1 Results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Points WDC
1976 Flag of Italy svg.png Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari 312T Ferrari 015 3.0 F12 ARG
 
RSA
 
USW
 
ESP
 
BEL
 
MON
 
SOV
 
FRA
 
GBR
16†
GER
Ret
AUT
1
NED
Ret
ITA
2
CAN
Ret
USA
Ret
JPN
Ret
15 10th
1977 Flag of Italy svg.png Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC Ferrari 312T2 Ferrari 015 3.0 F12 ARG
14†
RSA
1
USW
Ret
ESP
Ret
BEL
2
MON
Ret
FRA
Ret
TUS
Ret
SOV
Ret
GBR
10†
NED
1
GER
Ret
AUT
5
USA
Ret
JPN
5
32 7th
Template:GBR Williams Racing Williams FW05B Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ITA
3
CAN
7
1978 Template:GBR Saudia Williams Racing Team Williams FW06 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ARG
2
RSA
3
USW
Ret
ESP
7
BEL
4
MON
2
SUI
5
TUS
Ret
GBR
2
FRA
Ret
NED
Ret
GER
6
AUT
Ret
ITA
Ret
CAN
3
USA
Ret
32 6th
1979 Did not participate
1980 Template:FRA Ligier Talbot Gitanes Ligier JS11B Matra MS80 3.0 V12 ARG
Ret
BRA
Ret
USW
Ret
ESP
Ret
BEL
Ret
MON
 
MEX
Ret
SMR
12
FRA
12
GBR
7
GER
Ret
AUT
10
ITA
7
CAN
 
CPL
Ret
DUB
8
0 -
1981 Template:GBR Arrows North Star Racing Team Arrows A4 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ARG
11
RSA
14
BRA
8
USW
10
BEL
ENT
MON
ENT
SMR
ENT
MEX
ENT
FRA
ENT
GBR
ENT
GER
ENT
AUT
ENT
EUR
ENT
ITA
ENT
CAN
ENT
CPL
ENT
0 -
Template:GBR B&S Fabrications Spartec G71C Hart 415T 1.5 L4t ESP
ENT