Frenchman's nine-year career included stints with McLaren, Ferrari.
- Tambay was selected by Ferrari as the replacement for his close friend Gilles Villeneuve, who was killed during qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix in 1982.
- Tambay started 114 Grands Prix during a Formula 1 career that spanned 1977-86.
- Tambay also competed at Le Mans and the famous Paris-Dakar Rally, before turning his hand to TV commentary in his native France.
Leading Formula 1 figures have been paying tribute to Patrick Tambay following the Frenchman’s death at the age of 73.
Tambay started 114 Grands Prix during a Formula 1 career that spanned 1977-86, driving for McLaren, Renault and Ferrari. He won twice and earned five pole positions.
Tambay had endured Parkinson’s disease during his later years, and on Sunday his family announced his passing.
Patrick Tambay races to his first career win at Hockenheim, Germany, in 1982.
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Tambay’s debut came in 1977, with the uncompetitive Theodore outfit, a year in which he also claimed the Can-Am title—a feat he repeated in 1980 during a hiatus from Formula 1.
A return to Formula 1 with Theodore, and brief stint with Ligier, yielded little in 1981 but just as his single-seater career appeared to have stuttered he was handed an olive branch in tragic circumstances.
Tambay was selected by Ferrari as the replacement for his close friend Gilles Villeneuve, who was killed during qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix in 1982. Tambay went on to take his maiden win for Ferrari in only his fourth event with the marque, at Hockenheim, sporting the No. 27 previously run by the fallen Villeneuve.
Patrick Tambay on the podium at Hockenheim in 1982.
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Tambay stayed on at Ferrari in 1983, taking his second and final win on the team’s home soil at Imola in Italy, cementing his place in the hearts of the Tifosi.
Two years followed at Renault, before one final season at the ailing Team Haas (no relation to the current Haas F1 Team) in 1986.
Tambay also competed at Le Mans and the famous Paris-Dakar Rally, before turning his hand to TV commentary in his native France, while he was also godfather to 1997 champion Jacques Villeneuve, son of Gilles.
“I am saddened by the news that Patrick Tambay has passed away,” said Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali. “He was a great talent and ambassador for Formula 1 throughout his life. We will all miss him deeply and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this sad time.”
France’s Esteban Ocon described Tambay as “an icon of French motorsport” and said his thoughts were with his family and friends.
“We are all truly saddened by the news of the passing of Patrick Tambay,” said Ferrari in a statement. “He was one of the true stars of the 80s winning two races with the Scuderia and contributing to winning the Manufacturers’ titles in 1982 and 1983.”