Jean-Pierre Jabouille, whose victory for Renault in the 1979 French Grand Prix heralded a new era of turbo-powered Formula 1 cars, has died at the age of 80. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free It was a deserved breakthrough victory, the culmination of years of development work and repeated failures of turbo engines. While it came in Jabouille’s third season with the team, it was only their second points-scoring finish. Alpine, the F1 team run by Renault, issued a statement expressing that it was “incredibly saddened” by Jabouille’s death. “A humble racing driver, brilliant engineer, and a pioneer of our sport. Jean-Pierre was a true racer,” Alpine said in the statement. “He spearheaded Renault’s journey into F1 in 1977 with his resilient and dare to do attitude. He was Renault’s first Grand Prix winner in 1979, a landmark moment in Renault’s journey in Formula 1. His determination and dedication to succeed inspired many, and these values remain central to … [Read more...] about Jean-Pierre Jabouille, 1942-2023 · RaceFans
F2 when your team wins
Multiple F1 race winner Jean-Pierre Jabouille passes away aged 80
Jean-Pierre Jabouille, former Renault driver and the first Formula 1 driver to win with turbocharged power, died aged 80 on Thursday, according to multiple reports in French media. The Frenchman won two races in his time as a Formula 1 driver, winning his home race in Dijon in 1979 for Renault to become the first driver to win with a turbo engine in the sport’s history. Jabouille developed a reputation for being one of Formula 1’s unluckiest drivers during his time in the sport, only being a classified finisher in 10 of his 49 race starts – winning two races and taking six pole positions, becoming Renault’s first ever race winner in Formula 1 in the process. The Parisian racer spent several years in Formula 2 in the 1970s, combining that with sportscar racing as he looked for a way into Formula 1, winning the F2 title in 1976 before being given a factory drive with Renault in the second half of the following year. PlanetF1.com recommends Pat Symonds spotted an early sign … [Read more...] about Multiple F1 race winner Jean-Pierre Jabouille passes away aged 80
Fred Vasseur sees ‘close’ relationship with Charles Leclerc as an advantage for Ferrari
As he prepares for his first F1 season in charge at Ferrari, Fred Vasseur reckons his “close” relationship with Charles Leclerc will be an “advantage”. For the third time in his motorsport career, Leclerc has Vasseur as his team boss. The two first teamed up back in 2016 when the Monégasque driver raced for ART Grand Prix in the GP3 series. Leclerc won the title before moving onto Prema in F2. But after just one year apart, the driver and Vasseur were collaborating once again as he stepped up onto the Formula 1 grid with Alfa Romeo where the Frenchman had been appointed team boss. This year they’re again working together, this time at Ferrari. Vasseur believes their “close” relationship with benefit both of them. “I’ve been following Charles since his karting days,” he told Canal+. “After a period at ART in F3 [GP3 as it was then known], he made his F1 debut with Sauber, so we’ve always been close. “It’s an advantage for me, because I know him well, and it’s an advantage … [Read more...] about Fred Vasseur sees ‘close’ relationship with Charles Leclerc as an advantage for Ferrari