Didier Pironi
Didier Joseph Louis Pironi (born 26th March 1952 in Villecresnes, Val-de-Marne, France, died 16th May 1981 in Leuven, Belgium) was a French Grand Prix driver famous for his appearances in Formula One.
Formula One
1977-1978: Tyrrell
Pironi made his Formula One debut in 1977 with the Tyrrell team, driving alongside Boro refugee Héctor Rebaque. Despite Tyrrell being unable to score any points in the previous year, Pironi was able to grab an unexpected point in the season-opening Argentine Grand Prix. For much of the rest of the season, Pironi would be plagued with reliability issues. However, fortunes turned around at the end of the season, when Pironi improved his career-best finish with a fourth place at the United States Grand Prix.
Pironi would sign a new contract for 1978 which would keep him at the team for another year, alongside Robert Kagan. Pironi's season began in good fashion, taking fifth and fourth in opening two races. After a 6-race pointless streak, the Frenchman then took fifth at the British Grand Prix and scored his first career podium (and Tyrrell's first podium in three years) at his home Grand Prix as he led a Tyrrell 3-4 finish with Kagan close behind.
Results
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Team Tyrrell | Tyrrell 009 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | ARG 6 |
RSA Ret |
USW Ret |
ESP Ret |
BEL 18† |
MON Ret |
FRA 6 |
TUS Ret |
SOV Ret |
GBR 7 |
NED Ret |
GER Ret |
AUT Ret |
ITA 7 |
CAN 11 |
USA 4 |
JPN Ret |
5 | 14th |
| 1978 | Penthouse Team Tyrrell | Tyrrell 010 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | ARG 5 |
RSA 4 |
USW 7 |
ESP 13 |
BEL Ret |
MON 10 |
SUI Ret |
TUS 7 |
GBR 5 |
FRA 3 |
NED Ret |
GER 7 |
AUT Ret |
ITA 8 |
CAN 6 |
USA 8 |
12 | 9th | |
| 1979 | Équipe Renault Elf | Renault RS10 | Renault-Gordini EF1 1.5 V6t | ARG Ret |
BRA Ret |
RSA Ret |
USW 13† |
ESP Ret |
BEL Ret |
MON Ret |
EUR Ret |
SMR 11 |
FRA 9 |
GBR 9† |
GER 4 |
AUT Ret |
NED C |
ITA Ret |
CAN Ret |
USA 3 |
7 | 12th |
| 1980 | Équipe Renault Elf | Renault RS10B | Renault-Gordini EF1 1.5 V6t | ARG Ret |
BRA Ret |
USW Ret |
ESP 3 |
BEL Ret |
MON Ret |
MEX Ret |
SMR Ret |
FRA Ret |
GBR Ret |
GER Ret |
AUT 2 |
ITA 1 |
CAN 5 |
CPL Ret |
DUB Ret |
21 | 6th | |
| 1981 | Équipe Renault Elf | Renault RE30 | Renault-Gordini EF1 1.5 V6t | ARG Ret |
RSA Ret |
BRA Ret |
USW 3 |
ESP 8† |
BEL WD |
MON |
SMR |
MEX |
FRA |
GBR |
GER |
AUT |
EUR |
ITA |
CAN |
CPL |
4 | 17th |
| Sporting Accolades | ||
|---|---|---|
| Grand Prix Driver's Association | ||
| Preceded by: TBD |
Chairman 1980-1981 |
Succeeded by: Stephen South |