Jacques Laffite
born 21 Nov 1943 · raced 1974–1986
Jacques Laffite embodied a swashbuckling, often flamboyant, style throughout his long Formula 1 career. A key figure for Ligier, he brought the French team some of its most competitive years, particularly in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Known for his effervescent personality and sometimes daring overtakes, Laffite competed in 176 Grands Prix, securing 6 victories and 33 podium finishes. His career was a testament to perseverance and a popular presence in the paddock for over a decade.
All-time records
Where Jacques Laffite ranks in the all-time Formula 1 record books.
- =7th in Most F1 Retirements (82 retirements)
- 16th in Oldest F1 Pole Sitters (37y 212d)
- =18th in Most F1 Wins Without a Championship (6 wins)
- 20th in Oldest F1 Race Winners (37y 310d)
Top Teams
Team | Wins | Pod.Podiums | PtsPoints (as awarded) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ligier | 6 | 31 | 206 |
| Williams | 0 | 2 | 22 |
| Iso Marlboro | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Top Circuits
Circuit | Wins | Avg ptsAvg Points (as awarded) |
|---|---|---|
| Scandinavian Raceway | 1 | 4 |
| Hockenheimring | 1 | 2.75 |
| Red Bull Ring | 1 | 2.33 |
| Detroit Street Circuit | 0 | 2.2 |
| Jarama | 0 | 2 |
| Zolder | 0 | 2 |
| Nürburgring | 0 | 2 |
| Autódromo José Carlos Pace | 1 | 1.8 |
| Silverstone Circuit | 0 | 1.5 |
| Autódromo Juan y Oscar Gálvez | 1 | 1.5 |
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.
- Keke Rosberg29 shared races · Compare with Keke Rosberg (1984)
- Eddie Cheever14 shared races · Compare with Eddie Cheever (1982)
- Didier Pironi14 shared races · Compare with Didier Pironi (1980)
- Andrea de Cesaris11 shared races · Compare with Andrea de Cesaris (1985)
- René Arnoux9 shared races · Compare with René Arnoux (1986)
- Arturo Merzario9 shared races · Compare with Arturo Merzario (1974)
| Season | Championship position | Wins | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 81 place higher than 1985 | 0 | 14 |
| 1985 | 95 places higher than 1984 | 0 | 16 |
| 1984 | 143 places lower than 1983 | 0 | 5 |
| 1983 | 117 places higher than 1982 | 0 | 11 |
| 1982 | 1814 places lower than 1981 | 0 | 5 |
| 1981 | 4 | 2 | 44 |
| 1980 | 4 | 1 | 34 |
| 1979 | 44 places higher than 1978 | 2 | 36 |
| 1978 | 82 places higher than 1977 | 0 | 19 |
| 1977 | 102 places lower than 1976 | 1 | 18 |
| 1976 | 84 places higher than 1975 | 0 | 20 |
| 1975 | 1231 places higher than 1974 | 0 | 6 |
| 1974 | 43 | 0 | 0 |
| Season | Team | Matchup | Race |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Ligier | Arnoux vs LaffiteRené Arnoux vs Jacques Laffite | 5–4 |
| 1985 | Ligier | de Cesaris vs LaffiteAndrea de Cesaris vs Jacques Laffite | 5–6 |
| 1985 | Ligier | Laffite vs StreiffJacques Laffite vs Philippe Streiff | 1–3 |
| 1984 | Williams | Rosberg vs LaffiteKeke Rosberg vs Jacques Laffite | 8–7 |
| 1983 | Williams | Rosberg vs LaffiteKeke Rosberg vs Jacques Laffite | 10–3 |
| 1982 | Ligier | Cheever vs LaffiteEddie Cheever vs Jacques Laffite | 9–5 |
| 1981 | Ligier | Laffite vs TambayJacques Laffite vs Patrick Tambay | 7–1 |
| 1981 | Ligier | Jabouille vs LaffiteJean-Pierre Jabouille vs Jacques Laffite | 1–2 |
| 1980 | Ligier | Laffite vs PironiJacques Laffite vs Didier Pironi | 6–8 |
| 1979 | Ligier | Ickx vs LaffiteJacky Ickx vs Jacques Laffite | 2–6 |
| 1979 | Ligier | Depailler vs LaffitePatrick Depailler vs Jacques Laffite | 3–4 |
| 1975 | Williams | Laffite vs MerzarioJacques Laffite vs Arturo Merzario | 3–1 |
| 1974 | Iso Marlboro | Laffite vs MerzarioJacques Laffite vs Arturo Merzario | 2–3 |
24 circuitsShow all▾
- Scandinavian Raceway
- Hockenheimring
- Red Bull Ring
- Autódromo José Carlos Pace
- Autódromo Juan y Oscar Gálvez
- Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
- Detroit Street Circuit
- Nürburgring
- Zolder
- Jarama
- Silverstone Circuit
- Autódromo Internacional Nelson Piquet
- Circuit Park Zandvoort
- Circuit de Monaco
- Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
- Long Beach
- Kyalami
- Circuit Paul Ricard
- Autodromo Nazionale di Monza
- Watkins Glen
- Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
- Brands Hatch
- Dijon-Prenois
- Mosport International Raceway
19869 racesLigier▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | Collision | 0 | |
| 11 | P6 | 1 | |
| 6 | P2 | 6 | |
| 8 | P7 | 0 | |
| 17 | P5 | 2 | |
| 7 | P6 | 1 | |
| 14 | Transmission | 0 | |
| 8 | Halfshaft | 0 | |
| 5 | P3 | 4 |
Earlier seasons1974–1985 (12 seasons)▾
198515 racesLigier▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | P24 places better than season average (P6.4) | 6 | |
| 18 | Engine | 0 | |
| 17 | P115 places worse than season average (P6.4) | 0 | |
| 20 | Engine | 0 | |
| 13 | Electrical | 0 | |
| 15 | Accident | 0 | |
| 13 | P3 | 4 | |
| 16 | P3 | 4 | |
| 15 | Turbo | 0 | |
| 16 | P126 places worse than season average (P6.4) | 0 | |
| 19 | P8 | 0 | |
| 16 | P6 | 1 | |
| 16 | Turbo | 0 | |
| 18 | Tyre | 0 | |
| 15 | P6 | 1 |
▲/▼ a finish at least 4 places better/worse than Jacques Laffite’s average finish in 1985 (P6.4, retirements excluded).
198416 racesWilliams▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | P146 places worse than season average (P7.8) | 0 | |
| 14 | Engine | 0 | |
| 13 | Turbo | 0 | |
| 8 | Engine | 0 | |
| 11 | Engine | 0 | |
| 12 | Engine | 0 | |
| 16 | Water pump | 0 | |
| 24 | P4 | 3 | |
| 19 | P5 | 2 | |
| 17 | Turbo | 0 | |
| 16 | P8 | 0 | |
| 12 | P8 | 0 | |
| 15 | Engine | 0 | |
| 15 | Electrical | 0 | |
| 11 | Transmission | 0 | |
| 13 | Electrical | 0 |
▲/▼ a finish at least 4 places better/worse than Jacques Laffite’s average finish in 1984 (P7.8, retirements excluded).
198313 racesWilliams▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Spun off | 0 | |
| 17 | Handling | 0 | |
| 24 | Vibrations | 0 | |
| 15 | P6 | 1 | |
| 20 | P126 places worse than season average (P6.1) | 0 | |
| 13 | Gearbox | 0 | |
| 20 | P5 | 2 | |
| 11 | P6 | 1 | |
| 8 | Gearbox | 0 | |
| 16 | P7 | 0 | |
| 19 | P6 | 1 | |
| 4 | P4 | 3 | |
| 18 | P3 | 3 |
▲/▼ a finish at least 4 places better/worse than Jacques Laffite’s average finish in 1983 (P6.1, retirements excluded).
198215 racesLigier▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Ignition | 0 | |
| 21 | Gearbox | 0 | |
| 13 | Handling | 0 | |
| 14 | P3 | 4 | |
| 15 | Handling | 0 | |
| 16 | P14 | 0 | |
| 20 | Gearbox | 0 | |
| 21 | Handling | 0 | |
| 19 | Fuel system | 0 | |
| 13 | P6 | 1 | |
| 18 | Handling | 0 | |
| 17 | P9 | 0 | |
| 15 | Spun off | 0 | |
| 24 | Chassis | 0 | |
| 11 | Fuel system | 0 |
198115 races, 2 winsLigier▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | P6 | 1 | |
| 10 | P1 | 9 | |
| 4 | Puncture | 0 | |
| 6 | Collision | 0 | |
| 4 | P1 | 9 | |
| 7 | P3 | 4 | |
| 14 | P3 | 4 | |
| 6 | Suspension | 0 | |
| 1 | P2 | 6 | |
| 8 | P3 | 4 | |
| 9 | P2 | 6 | |
| 10 | Suspension | 0 | |
| 21 | Handling | 0 | |
| 16 | P6 | 1 | |
| 12 | Collision | 0 |
198014 races, 1 winLigier▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | P5 | 2 | |
| 9 | P8 | 0 | |
| 20 | P94 places worse than season average (P4.8) | 0 | |
| 6 | P3 | 4 | |
| 5 | P4 | 3 | |
| 5 | P1 | 9 | |
| 2 | Tyre | 0 | |
| 1 | P3 | 4 | |
| 5 | P2 | 6 | |
| 3 | P116 places worse than season average (P4.8) | 0 | |
| 13 | Puncture | 0 | |
| 4 | P2 | 6 | |
| 5 | Electrical | 0 | |
| 2 | Engine | 0 |
▲/▼ a finish at least 4 places better/worse than Jacques Laffite’s average finish in 1980 (P4.8, retirements excluded).
197915 races, 2 winsLigier▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Spun off | 0 | |
| 5 | Engine | 0 | |
| 7 | Engine | 0 | |
| 7 | P3 | 4 | |
| 8 | P3 | 4 | |
| 3 | P3 | 4 | |
| 10 | Engine | 0 | |
| 8 | P85 places worse than season average (P3.0) | 0 | |
| 5 | Gearbox | 0 | |
| 1 | P2 | 6 | |
| 1 | Engine | 0 | |
| 5 | Brakes | 0 | |
| 6 | Accident | 0 | |
| 1 | P1 | 9 | |
| 1 | P1 | 9 |
▲/▼ a finish at least 4 places better/worse than Jacques Laffite’s average finish in 1979 (P3.0, retirements excluded).
197816 racesLigier▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Transmission | 0 | |
| 10 | P114 places worse than season average (P7.0) | 0 | |
| 8 | P4 | 3 | |
| 6 | P8 | 0 | |
| 5 | P5 | 2 | |
| 7 | P34 places better than season average (P7.0) | 4 | |
| 7 | P10 | 0 | |
| 10 | P7 | 0 | |
| 11 | P7 | 0 | |
| 10 | P34 places better than season average (P7.0) | 4 | |
| 14 | P5 | 2 | |
| 15 | Gearbox | 0 | |
| 14 | P5 | 2 | |
| 13 | P5 | 2 | |
| 14 | P9 | 0 | |
| 8 | P169 places worse than season average (P7.0) | 0 |
▲/▼ a finish at least 4 places better/worse than Jacques Laffite’s average finish in 1978 (P7.0, retirements excluded).
197717 races, 1 winLigier▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | P5 | 2 | |
| 11 | Transmission | 0 | |
| 10 | P7 | 0 | |
| 8 | P8 | 0 | |
| 2 | P24 places better than season average (P6.0) | 6 | |
| 6 | Oil leak | 0 | |
| 6 | Engine | 0 | |
| 15 | P6 | 1 | |
| 5 | P8 | 0 | |
| 8 | P15 places better than season average (P6.0) | 9 | |
| 10 | Engine | 0 | |
| 16 | P7 | 0 | |
| 2 | P7 | 0 | |
| 5 | P9 | 0 | |
| 12 | Accident | 0 | |
| 14 | Accident | 0 | |
| 15 | Not classified | 0 |
▲/▼ a finish at least 4 places better/worse than Jacques Laffite’s average finish in 1977 (P6.0, retirements excluded).
197616 racesLigier▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | P7 | 0 | |
| 4 | Tyre | 0 | |
| 9 | Oil pressure | 0 | |
| 1 | P3 | 4 | |
| 10 | Oil leak | 0 | |
| 5 | P25 places better than season average (P6.8) | 6 | |
| 6 | Gearbox | 0 | |
| 13 | Suspension | 0 | |
| 13 | P147 places worse than season average (P6.8) | 0 | |
| 7 | P4 | 3 | |
| 8 | P125 places worse than season average (P6.8) | 0 | |
| 4 | P3 | 4 | |
| 8 | P125 places worse than season average (P6.8) | 0 | |
| 12 | P4 | 3 | |
| 8 | Engine | 0 | |
| 11 | Transmission | 0 |
▲/▼ a finish at least 4 places better/worse than Jacques Laffite’s average finish in 1976 (P6.8, retirements excluded).
197511 racesWilliams▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | Physical | 0 | |
| 18 | Gearbox | 0 | |
| 12 | Handling | 0 | |
| 15 | P2 | 6 | |
| 19 | Gearbox | 0 | |
| 16 | P11 | 0 | |
| 15 | Engine | 0 | |
| 23 | Gearbox | 0 | |
| 23 | Not classified | 0 | |
| 11 | P11 | 0 | |
| 17 | Gearbox | 0 |
19745 racesIso Marlboro▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Engine | 0 | |
| 18 | P15 | 0 | |
| 17 | Engine | 0 | |
| 12 | Not classified | 0 | |
| 21 | Suspension | 0 |