René Arnoux
born 4 Jul 1948 · raced 1978–1989
149Races
7Wins
22Podiums
18Polesjoint 19th all-time
68Top 10s
6.89Avg Position
10.62Avg Grid Pos
1Constructor Titles
René Arnoux was a mercurial talent whose career spanned the late 1970s and 1980s, primarily with Renault and Ferrari. Known for his aggressive, flamboyant driving style and exceptional qualifying pace, he was a formidable competitor, particularly in turbo-era cars. While never quite achieving a World Championship, his 7 victories and memorable duels, most notably with Gilles Villeneuve at Dijon in 1979, cemented his place as one of the era's most exciting figures. He competed in 149 Grands Prix, securing 18 pole positions and 22 podium finishes.
All-time records
Where René Arnoux ranks in the all-time Formula 1 record books.
- =17th in Longest F1 Win Droughts (35 races)
- =19th in Most F1 Pole Positions (18 pole positions)
- =20th in Most F1 Front Row Starts (34 front row starts)
Top Teams
Top Circuits
Circuit | Wins | Avg Points (as awarded) | Races |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kyalami | 1 | 2.6 | 5 |
| Dijon-Prenois | 0 | 2.5 | 4 |
| Circuit Park Zandvoort | 1 | 2.14 | 7 |
| Watkins Glen | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Hockenheimring | 1 | 1.9 | 10 |
| Circuit Paul Ricard | 1 | 1.86 | 7 |
| Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari | 0 | 1.67 | 6 |
| Autodromo Nazionale di Monza | 1 | 1.67 | 9 |
| Silverstone Circuit | 0 | 1.6 | 5 |
| Red Bull Ring | 0 | 1.44 | 9 |
Page 1 of 3 · Showing 1–10 of 24
Points are Grand Prix points as awarded at the time (sprints excluded); average points are per race started.
Most-shared teammates. Each link opens their head-to-head.
- Alain Prost30 shared races · Compare with Alain Prost (1982)
- Jean-Pierre Jabouille27 shared races · Compare with Jean-Pierre Jabouille (1979)
- Michele Alboreto16 shared races · Compare with Michele Alboreto (1984)
- Patrick Tambay15 shared races · Compare with Patrick Tambay (1983)
- Piercarlo Ghinzani14 shared races · Compare with Piercarlo Ghinzani (1987)
- Stefan Johansson10 shared races · Compare with Stefan Johansson (1988)
| Season | Team | Matchup | Race |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | René Arnoux vs Olivier Grouillard | 3–4 | |
| 1988 | René Arnoux vs Stefan Johansson | 5–5 | |
| 1987 | René Arnoux vs Piercarlo Ghinzani | 8–6 | |
| 1986 | René Arnoux vs Jacques Laffite | 5–4 | |
| 1986 | Philippe Alliot vs René Arnoux | 2–5 | |
| 1984 | Michele Alboreto vs René Arnoux | 8–8 | |
| 1983 | René Arnoux vs Patrick Tambay | 8–7 | |
| 1982 | René Arnoux vs Alain Prost | 5–11 | |
| 1981 | René Arnoux vs Alain Prost | 5–9 | |
| 1980 | René Arnoux vs Jean-Pierre Jabouille | 10–3 | |
| 1979 | René Arnoux vs Jean-Pierre Jabouille | 7–7 |
24 circuitsShow all▾
- Kyalami
- Circuit Park Zandvoort
- Hockenheimring
- Circuit Paul Ricard
- Autodromo Nazionale di Monza
- Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
- Dijon-Prenois
- Watkins Glen
- Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
- Silverstone Circuit
- Red Bull Ring
- Zolder
- Long Beach
- Autódromo Internacional Nelson Piquet
- Brands Hatch
- Autódromo Juan y Oscar Gálvez
- Circuit de Monaco
- Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
- Hungaroring
- Circuito de Jerez
- Autódromo do Estoril
- Adelaide Street Circuit
- Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez
- Detroit Street Circuit
198916 races▾
| Grand Prix | Team | Grid | Result | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Grand Prix | Ligier | 26 | Collision | 0 |
| Japanese Grand Prix | Ligier | — | Did not qualify | 0 |
| Spanish Grand Prix | Ligier | — | Did not qualify | 0 |
| Portuguese Grand Prix | Ligier | 23 | P13 | 0 |
| Italian Grand Prix | Ligier | 23 | P9 | 0 |
| Belgian Grand Prix | Ligier | 17 | Collision | 0 |
| Hungarian Grand Prix | Ligier | — | Did not qualify | 0 |
| German Grand Prix | Ligier | 23 | P11 | 0 |
| British Grand Prix | Ligier | — | Did not qualify | 0 |
| French Grand Prix | Ligier | 18 | Gearbox | 0 |
| Canadian Grand Prix | Ligier | 22 | P5 | 2 |
| United States Grand Prix | Ligier | — | Did not qualify | 0 |
| Mexican Grand Prix | Ligier | 25 | P14 | 0 |
| Monaco Grand Prix | Ligier | 21 | P12 | 0 |
| San Marino Grand Prix | Ligier | — | Did not qualify | 0 |
| Brazilian Grand Prix | Ligier | — | Did not qualify | 0 |
Earlier seasons1978–1988 (11 seasons)▾
198816 races▾
| Grand Prix | Team | Grid | Result | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Grand Prix | Ligier | 23 | Collision | 0 |
| Japanese Grand Prix | Ligier | 23 | P17 | 0 |
| Spanish Grand Prix | Ligier | 19 | Throttle | 0 |
| Portuguese Grand Prix | Ligier | 23 | P10 | 0 |
| Italian Grand Prix | Ligier | 24 | P13 | 0 |
| Belgian Grand Prix | Ligier | 17 | Accident | 0 |
| Hungarian Grand Prix | Ligier | 25 | Engine | 0 |
| German Grand Prix | Ligier | 17 | P17 | 0 |
| British Grand Prix | Ligier | 25 | P18 | 0 |
| French Grand Prix | Ligier | — | Did not qualify | 0 |
| Detroit Grand Prix | Ligier | 20 | Overheating | 0 |
| Canadian Grand Prix | Ligier | 20 | Transmission | 0 |
| Mexican Grand Prix | Ligier | 20 | Accident | 0 |
| Monaco Grand Prix | Ligier | 20 | Engine | 0 |
| San Marino Grand Prix | Ligier | — | Did not qualify | 0 |
| Brazilian Grand Prix | Ligier | 18 | Clutch | 0 |
198715 races▾
| Grand Prix | Team | Grid | Result | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Grand Prix | Ligier | 20 | Ignition | 0 |
| Japanese Grand Prix | Ligier | 17 | Out of fuel | 0 |
| Mexican Grand Prix | Ligier | 18 | Overheating | 0 |
| Spanish Grand Prix | Ligier | 14 | Collision | 0 |
| Portuguese Grand Prix | Ligier | 18 | Radiator | 0 |
| Italian Grand Prix | Ligier | 15 | P10 | 0 |
| Austrian Grand Prix | Ligier | 16 | P10 | 0 |
| Hungarian Grand Prix | Ligier | 19 | Electrical | 0 |
| German Grand Prix | Ligier | 12 | Ignition | 0 |
| British Grand Prix | Ligier | 16 | Electrical | 0 |
| French Grand Prix | Ligier | 13 | Exhaust | 0 |
| Detroit Grand Prix | Ligier | 21 | P10 | 0 |
| Monaco Grand Prix | Ligier | 22 | P11 | 0 |
| Belgian Grand Prix | Ligier | 16 | P6 | 1 |
| San Marino Grand Prix | Ligier | — | Suspension | 0 |
198616 races▾
| Grand Prix | Team | Grid | Result | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Grand Prix | Ligier | 5 | P7 | 0 |
| Mexican Grand Prix | Ligier | 13 | P15 | 0 |
| Portuguese Grand Prix | Ligier | 10 | P7 | 0 |
| Italian Grand Prix | Ligier | 11 | Gearbox | 0 |
| Austrian Grand Prix | Ligier | 12 | P10 | 0 |
| Hungarian Grand Prix | Ligier | 9 | Engine | 0 |
| German Grand Prix | Ligier | 8 | P4 | 3 |
| British Grand Prix | Ligier | 8 | P4 | 3 |
| French Grand Prix | Ligier | 4 | P5 | 2 |
| Detroit Grand Prix | Ligier | 4 | Accident | 0 |
| Canadian Grand Prix | Ligier | 5 | P6 | 1 |
| Belgian Grand Prix | Ligier | 7 | Engine | 0 |
| Monaco Grand Prix | Ligier | 12 | P5 | 2 |
| San Marino Grand Prix | Ligier | 8 | Wheel | 0 |
| Spanish Grand Prix | Ligier | 6 | Halfshaft | 0 |
| Brazilian Grand Prix | Ligier | 4 | P4 | 3 |
19851 race▾
| Grand Prix | Team | Grid | Result | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brazilian Grand Prix | Ferrari | 7 | P4 | 3 |
198416 races▾
| Grand Prix | Team | Grid | Result | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portuguese Grand Prix | Ferrari | 17 | P9 | 0 |
| European Grand Prix | Ferrari | 6 | P5 | 2 |
| Italian Grand Prix | Ferrari | 14 | Gearbox | 0 |
| Dutch Grand Prix | Ferrari | 15 | P11 | 0 |
| Austrian Grand Prix | Ferrari | 15 | P7 | 0 |
| German Grand Prix | Ferrari | 10 | P6 | 1 |
| British Grand Prix | Ferrari | 13 | P6 | 1 |
| Dallas Grand Prix | Ferrari | 4 | P2 | 6 |
| Detroit Grand Prix | Ferrari | 15 | Accident | 0 |
| Canadian Grand Prix | Ferrari | 5 | P5 | 2 |
| Monaco Grand Prix | Ferrari | 3 | P3 | 2 |
| French Grand Prix | Ferrari | 11 | P4 | 3 |
| San Marino Grand Prix | Ferrari | 6 | P2 | 6 |
| Belgian Grand Prix | Ferrari | 2 | P3 | 4 |
| South African Grand Prix | Ferrari | 15 | Injection | 0 |
| Brazilian Grand Prix | Ferrari | 10 | Battery | 0 |
198315 races, 3 wins▾
| Grand Prix | Team | Grid | Result | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South African Grand Prix | Ferrari | 4 | Engine | 0 |
| European Grand Prix | Ferrari | 5 | P9 | 0 |
| Italian Grand Prix | Ferrari | 3 | P2 | 6 |
| Dutch Grand Prix | Ferrari | 10 | P1 | 9 |
| Austrian Grand Prix | Ferrari | 2 | P2 | 6 |
| German Grand Prix | Ferrari | 2 | P1 | 9 |
| British Grand Prix | Ferrari | 1 | P5 | 2 |
| Canadian Grand Prix | Ferrari | 1 | P1 | 9 |
| Detroit Grand Prix | Ferrari | 1 | Electrical | 0 |
| Belgian Grand Prix | Ferrari | 5 | Engine | 0 |
| Monaco Grand Prix | Ferrari | 2 | Suspension | 0 |
| San Marino Grand Prix | Ferrari | 1 | P3 | 4 |
| French Grand Prix | Ferrari | 4 | P7 | 0 |
| United States Grand Prix West | Ferrari | 2 | P3 | 4 |
| Brazilian Grand Prix | Ferrari | 6 | P9 | 0 |
198216 races, 2 wins▾
| Grand Prix | Team | Grid | Result | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caesars Palace Grand Prix | Renault | 2 | Engine | 0 |
| Italian Grand Prix | Renault | 6 | P1 | 9 |
| Swiss Grand Prix | Renault | 2 | P16 | 0 |
| Austrian Grand Prix | Renault | 5 | Injection | 0 |
| German Grand Prix | Renault | 3 | P2 | 6 |
| French Grand Prix | Renault | 1 | P1 | 9 |
| British Grand Prix | Renault | 6 | Collision | 0 |
| Dutch Grand Prix | Renault | 1 | Spun off | 0 |
| Canadian Grand Prix | Renault | 2 | Spun off | 0 |
| Detroit Grand Prix | Renault | 15 | P10 | 0 |
| Monaco Grand Prix | Renault | 1 | Spun off | 0 |
| Belgian Grand Prix | Renault | 2 | Turbo | 0 |
| San Marino Grand Prix | Renault | 1 | Turbo | 0 |
| United States Grand Prix West | Renault | 3 | Collision | 0 |
| Brazilian Grand Prix | Renault | 4 | Collision | 0 |
| South African Grand Prix | Renault | 1 | P3 | 4 |
198115 races▾
| Grand Prix | Team | Grid | Result | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caesars Palace Grand Prix | Renault | 13 | Electrical | 0 |
| Canadian Grand Prix | Renault | 8 | Collision | 0 |
| Italian Grand Prix | Renault | 1 | Spun off | 0 |
| Dutch Grand Prix | Renault | 2 | Engine | 0 |
| Austrian Grand Prix | Renault | 1 | P2 | 6 |
| German Grand Prix | Renault | 2 | P13 | 0 |
| British Grand Prix | Renault | 1 | P9 | 0 |
| French Grand Prix | Renault | 1 | P4 | 3 |
| Spanish Grand Prix | Renault | 17 | P9 | 0 |
| Monaco Grand Prix | Renault | 13 | Spun off | 0 |
| Belgian Grand Prix | Renault | — | Did not qualify | 0 |
| San Marino Grand Prix | Renault | 3 | P8 | 0 |
| Argentine Grand Prix | Renault | 5 | P5 | 2 |
| Brazilian Grand Prix | Renault | 8 | Collision | 0 |
| United States Grand Prix West | Renault | 20 | P8 | 0 |
198014 races, 2 wins▾
| Grand Prix | Team | Grid | Result | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States Grand Prix | Renault | 6 | P7 | 0 |
| Canadian Grand Prix | Renault | 23 | Brakes | 0 |
| Italian Grand Prix | Renault | 1 | P10 | 0 |
| Dutch Grand Prix | Renault | 1 | P2 | 6 |
| Austrian Grand Prix | Renault | 1 | P9 | 0 |
| German Grand Prix | Renault | 3 | Engine | 0 |
| British Grand Prix | Renault | 16 | Not classified | 0 |
| French Grand Prix | Renault | 2 | P5 | 2 |
| Monaco Grand Prix | Renault | 20 | Accident | 0 |
| Belgian Grand Prix | Renault | 6 | P4 | 3 |
| United States Grand Prix West | Renault | 2 | P9 | 0 |
| South African Grand Prix | Renault | 2 | P1 | 9 |
| Brazilian Grand Prix | Renault | 6 | P1 | 9 |
| Argentine Grand Prix | Renault | 19 | Suspension | 0 |
197915 races▾
| Grand Prix | Team | Grid | Result | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States Grand Prix | Renault | 7 | P2 | 6 |
| Canadian Grand Prix | Renault | 8 | Accident | 0 |
| Italian Grand Prix | Renault | 2 | Engine | 0 |
| Dutch Grand Prix | Renault | 1 | Suspension | 0 |
| Austrian Grand Prix | Renault | 1 | P6 | 1 |
| German Grand Prix | Renault | 10 | Tyre | 0 |
| British Grand Prix | Renault | 5 | P2 | 6 |
| French Grand Prix | Renault | 2 | P3 | 4 |
| Monaco Grand Prix | Renault | 19 | Accident | 0 |
| Belgian Grand Prix | Renault | 18 | Turbo | 0 |
| Spanish Grand Prix | Renault | 11 | P9 | 0 |
| United States Grand Prix West | Renault | — | Withdrew | 0 |
| South African Grand Prix | Renault | 10 | Tyre | 0 |
| Brazilian Grand Prix | Renault | 11 | Spun off | 0 |
| Argentine Grand Prix | Renault | 25 | Engine | 0 |
19789 races▾
| Grand Prix | Team | Grid | Result | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canadian Grand Prix | Surtees | 16 | Engine | 0 |
| United States Grand Prix | Martini | 21 | P9 | 0 |
| Dutch Grand Prix | Martini | 23 | Chassis | 0 |
| Austrian Grand Prix | Martini | 26 | P9 | 0 |
| German Grand Prix | Martini | — | Did not prequalify | 0 |
| French Grand Prix | Martini | 18 | P14 | 0 |
| Belgian Grand Prix | Martini | 19 | P9 | 0 |
| Monaco Grand Prix | Martini | — | Did not prequalify | 0 |
| South African Grand Prix | Martini | — | Did not qualify | 0 |