Patrick Tambay
born 25 Jun 1949 · raced 1977–1986
Patrick Tambay, a cultured and intelligent French driver, competed in 116 Formula 1 Grands Prix, securing 2 victories and 11 podium finishes. His career reached its peak with Ferrari in the early 1980s, where he notably stepped in after the tragic death of Gilles Villeneuve. Tambay’s smooth driving style and technical understanding made him a respected figure, known for his sportsmanship and ability to deliver strong performances under pressure. Though he never won a World Championship, his two victories for Ferrari cemented his place in the team’s storied history and endeared him to the Tifosi.
All-time records
Where Patrick Tambay ranks in the all-time Formula 1 record books.
- =23rd in Most F1 Teams Driven For (7 teams)
Top Teams
Top Circuits
Circuit | Wins | Avg ptsAvg Points (as awarded) |
|---|---|---|
| Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari | 1 | 2.6 |
| Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps | 0 | 2 |
| Dijon-Prenois | 0 | 1.5 |
| Hockenheimring | 1 | 1.5 |
| Circuit Paul Ricard | 0 | 1.4 |
| Autódromo do Estoril | 0 | 1.33 |
| Autodromo Nazionale di Monza | 0 | 1.22 |
| Circuit Park Zandvoort | 0 | 1.13 |
| Autódromo Internacional Nelson Piquet | 0 | 1 |
| Brands Hatch | 0 | 0.83 |
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.
- Derek Warwick30 shared races · Compare with Derek Warwick (1985)
- Alan Jones15 shared races · Compare with Alan Jones (1986)
- René Arnoux15 shared races · Compare with René Arnoux (1983)
- James Hunt15 shared races · Compare with James Hunt (1978)
- John Watson13 shared races · Compare with John Watson (1979)
- Jacques Laffite8 shared races · Compare with Jacques Laffite (1981)
| Season | Championship position | Wins | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 153 places lower than 1985 | 0 | 2 |
| 1985 | 121 place lower than 1984 | 0 | 11 |
| 1984 | 117 places lower than 1983 | 0 | 11 |
| 1983 | 43 places higher than 1982 | 1 | 40 |
| 1982 | 712 places higher than 1981 | 1 | 25 |
| 1981 | 19 | 0 | 1 |
| 1979 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 1978 | 144 places higher than 1977 | 0 | 8 |
| 1977 | 18 | 0 | 5 |
| Season | Team | Matchup | Race |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Lola | Jones vs TambayAlan Jones vs Patrick Tambay | 6–9 |
| 1985 | Renault | Tambay vs WarwickPatrick Tambay vs Derek Warwick | 8–7 |
| 1984 | Renault | Tambay vs WarwickPatrick Tambay vs Derek Warwick | 7–7 |
| 1983 | Ferrari | Arnoux vs TambayRené Arnoux vs Patrick Tambay | 8–7 |
| 1982 | Ferrari | Pironi vs TambayDidier Pironi vs Patrick Tambay | 3–0 |
| 1981 | Ligier | Laffite vs TambayJacques Laffite vs Patrick Tambay | 7–1 |
| 1979 | McLaren | Tambay vs WatsonPatrick Tambay vs John Watson | 3–10 |
| 1978 | McLaren | Hunt vs TambayJames Hunt vs Patrick Tambay | 4–11 |
| 1978 | McLaren | Lunger vs TambayBrett Lunger vs Patrick Tambay | 1–2 |
| 1977 | Ensign | Regazzoni vs TambayClay Regazzoni vs Patrick Tambay | 2–3 |
19 circuitsShow all▾
- Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
- Hockenheimring
- Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
- Dijon-Prenois
- Circuit Paul Ricard
- Autódromo do Estoril
- Autodromo Nazionale di Monza
- Circuit Park Zandvoort
- Autódromo Internacional Nelson Piquet
- Brands Hatch
- Silverstone Circuit
- Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
- Red Bull Ring
- Circuit de Monaco
- Autódromo Juan y Oscar Gálvez
- Long Beach
- Kyalami
- Detroit Street Circuit
- Jarama
198615 racesLola▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | Not classified | 0 | |
| 8 | Accident | 0 | |
| 14 | Not classified | 0 | |
| 15 | Accident | 0 | |
| 13 | P5 | 2 | |
| 6 | P7 | 0 | |
| 13 | P8 | 0 | |
| 17 | Gearbox | 0 | |
| 13 | Brakes | 0 | |
| 14 | Accident | 0 | |
| 10 | Accident | 0 | |
| 8 | Accident | 0 | |
| 11 | Engine | 0 | |
| 18 | P8 | 0 | |
| 13 | Battery | 0 |
Earlier seasons1977–1985 (8 seasons)▾
198515 racesRenault▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Transmission | 0 | |
| 17 | P125 places worse than season average (P6.6) | 0 | |
| 13 | Gearbox | 0 | |
| 8 | P7 | 0 | |
| 6 | Transmission | 0 | |
| 8 | P10 | 0 | |
| 16 | Spun off | 0 | |
| 13 | Spun off | 0 | |
| 10 | P6 | 1 | |
| 15 | Accident | 0 | |
| 10 | P7 | 0 | |
| 17 | Accident | 0 | |
| 11 | P3 | 4 | |
| 12 | P3 | 4 | |
| 11 | P5 | 2 |
▲/▼ a finish at least 4 places better/worse than Patrick Tambay’s average finish in 1985 (P6.6, retirements excluded).
198415 racesRenault▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | P7 | 0 | |
| 3 | Fuel system | 0 | |
| 8 | Throttle | 0 | |
| 5 | P6 | 1 | |
| 5 | Engine | 0 | |
| 4 | P5 | 2 | |
| 10 | P8 | 0 | |
| 10 | Spun off | 0 | |
| 9 | Transmission | 0 | |
| 6 | Collision | 0 | |
| 1 | P2 | 6 | |
| 14 | Collision | 0 | |
| 12 | P7 | 0 | |
| 4 | Out of fuel | 0 | |
| 8 | P5 | 2 |
198315 races, 1 winFerrari▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Turbo | 0 | |
| 6 | Spun off | 0 | |
| 2 | P4 | 3 | |
| 2 | P2 | 6 | |
| 1 | Ignition | 0 | |
| 1 | Engine | 0 | |
| 2 | P3 | 4 | |
| 4 | P3 | 4 | |
| 3 | Engine | 0 | |
| 2 | P2 | 6 | |
| 4 | P4 | 3 | |
| 3 | P1 | 9 | |
| 11 | P4 | 3 | |
| 1 | Collision | 0 | |
| 3 | P4 | 2 |
19828 races, 1 winFerrari▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Withdrew | 0 | |
| 3 | P2 | 6 | |
| 10 | Injury | 0 | |
| 4 | P4 | 3 | |
| 5 | P1 | 9 | |
| 5 | P4 | 3 | |
| 13 | P3 | 4 | |
| 6 | P84 places worse than season average (P3.7) | 0 |
▲/▼ a finish at least 4 places better/worse than Patrick Tambay’s average finish in 1982 (P3.7, retirements excluded).
198114 races▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Accident | 0 | |
| 17 | Spun off | 0 | |
| 15 | Puncture | 0 | |
LigierDutch GPDutch Grand Prix | 11 | Collision | 0 |
| 17 | Engine | 0 | |
| 11 | Transmission | 0 | |
| 15 | Clutch | 0 | |
| 16 | Wheel bearing | 0 | |
TheodoreSpanish GPSpanish Grand Prix | 16 | P13 | 0 |
TheodoreMonaco GPMonaco Grand Prix | 16 | P7 | 0 |
| 16 | P11 | 0 | |
TheodoreArgentine GPArgentine Grand Prix | 14 | Oil leak | 0 |
TheodoreBrazilian GPBrazilian Grand Prix | 19 | P10 | 0 |
| 17 | P6 | 1 |
197913 racesMcLaren▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | Engine | 0 | |
| 20 | Engine | 0 | |
| 14 | Engine | 0 | |
| 14 | Engine | 0 | |
| 14 | P10 | 0 | |
| 15 | Suspension | 0 | |
| 18 | P7 | 0 | |
| 20 | P10 | 0 | |
| 20 | P13 | 0 | |
| 19 | Collision | 0 | |
| 17 | P10 | 0 | |
| 18 | Collision | 0 | |
| 9 | Collision | 0 |
197815 racesMcLaren▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | P8 | 0 | |
| 18 | P6 | 1 | |
| 19 | P5 | 2 | |
| 14 | P9 | 0 | |
| 14 | Accident | 0 | |
| 11 | Accident | 0 | |
| 20 | P6 | 1 | |
| 6 | P9 | 0 | |
| 15 | P4 | 3 | |
| 14 | Spun off | 0 | |
| 11 | P7 | 0 | |
| 11 | P125 places worse than season average (P7.2) | 0 | |
| 4 | Accident | 0 | |
| 5 | Spun off | 0 | |
| 9 | P6 | 1 |
▲/▼ a finish at least 4 places better/worse than Patrick Tambay’s average finish in 1978 (P7.2, retirements excluded).
19777 racesEnsign▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | Engine | 0 | |
| 16 | P5 | 2 | |
| 21 | Engine | 0 | |
| 12 | P5 | 2 | |
| 7 | Engine | 0 | |
| 11 | P6 | 1 | |
| 10 | Electrical | 0 |