Patrick Tambay

Patrick Tambay
Tambay at the 1983 Dutch Grand Prix
Born
Patrick Daniel Tambay

(1949-06-25)25 June 1949
Paris, France
Died4 December 2022(2022-12-04) (aged 73)
Paris, France
Children3, including Adrien
Formula One World Championship career
NationalityFrance French
Active years19771979, 19811986
TeamsSurtees, Theodore, McLaren, Ligier, Ferrari, Renault, Haas Lola
Entries123 (114 starts)
Championships0
Wins2
Podiums11
Career points103
Pole positions5
Fastest laps2
First entry1977 French Grand Prix
First win1982 German Grand Prix
Last win1983 San Marino Grand Prix
Last entry1986 Australian Grand Prix
24 Hours of Le Mans career
Years19761977, 1981, 1989
TeamsRenault, Rondeau, Jaguar
Best finish4th (1989)
Class wins0

Patrick Daniel Tambay (French pronunciation: [pa.tʁik da.njɛl tɑ̃.bɛ]; 25 June 1949 – 4 December 2022) was a French racing driver, broadcaster and politician, who competed in Formula One from 1977 to 1986. Tambay won two Formula One Grands Prix across nine seasons.

Born and raised in Paris, Tambay gained training as a racing driver at the Winfield Racing School in 1971. Between 1977 and 1981, he raced for an assortment of teams including Surtees, Theodore, Ligier and McLaren with mixed results; he additionally won two Can-Am titles under Carl Haas in 1977 and 1980. Tambay was hired by Ferrari after the death of Gilles Villeneuve in 1982, taking his maiden victory four races later at the German Grand Prix. His second and final victory came the following season in San Marino, finishing the season a career-best fourth in the World Drivers' Championship. In 1984, Tambay moved to Renault, before ending his Formula One career at Haas Lola, having achieved two wins, five pole positions, two fastest laps and 11 podiums.

Tambay competed in various forms of motorsport following his departure from Formula One, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the World Sportscar Championship, and the Dakar Rally.