Patrick Depailler

Patrick Depailler
Depailler in 1975
Born	Patrick André Eugène Joseph Depailler (1944-08-09)9 August 1944 Clermont-Ferrand, Puy-de-Dôme, France
Died	1 August 1980(1980-08-01) (aged 35) Hockenheimring, Baden-Württemberg, West Germany
Cause of death	Single vehicle collision whilst testing the Alfa Romeo 179
Formula One World Championship career
Nationality	French
Active years	1972, 1974–1980
Teams	Tyrrell, Ligier, Alfa Romeo
Entries	95
Championships	0
Wins	2
Podiums	19
Career points	139 (141)[a]
Pole positions	1
Fastest laps	4
First entry	1972 French Grand Prix
First win	1978 Monaco Grand Prix
Last win	1979 Spanish Grand Prix
Last entry	1980 British Grand Prix

Patrick André Eugène Joseph Depailler (French pronunciation: [patʁik ɑ̃dʁe øʒɛn ʒozɛf dəpaje]; 9 August 1944 – 1 August 1980) was a French racing driver, who competed in Formula One from 1972 to 1980. Depailler won two Formula One Grands Prix across eight seasons.

Depailler was born in Clermont-Ferrand, Puy-de-Dôme. As a child, he was inspired by Jean Behra. In Formula One, he joined a Tyrrell team that was beginning a long, slow decline, eventually moving to the erratic Ligier team before finally ending up with the revived Alfa Romeo squad in 1980.

In August 1980, Depailler was killed during a private testing session at the Hockenheimring. He achieved two wins, one pole position, four fastest laps and 19 podiums in Formula One. Depailler holds the joint-record for the most podiums before winning a Grand Prix (15).
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