The F1 community has paid tribute to former Formula 1 driver Patrick Tambay who died at the age of 73 after a long illness.
The F1 world has paid tribute to Patrick Tambay after the announcement on Sunday that the former French Formula One driver had died at the age of 73.
Patrick Tambay, who won two Grand Prix (Hockenheim in 1982 and Imola in 1983) during his F1 career, has died at the age of 73. The Frenchman took part in 114 Formula 1 Grands Prix and drove for teams such as Ferrari, Renault and McLaren. During his Formula 1 championship career, Tambay scored eleven podiums, five pole positions and two victories (both with Scuderia Ferrari).
Tambay has also competed in endurance racing, taking part in the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans on four occasions, his best result in the Sarthe being a fourth place in 1989 with the Silk Cut Jaguar team.
Throughout the day, the tributes were numerous, starting with Scuderia Ferrari: “We are all saddened by the news of Patrick Tambay’s death,” said the Maranello-based team in a short statement.
“He was one of the real stars of the 1980s, winning two races with the Scuderia and helping to win the Constructors’ titles in 1982 and 1983.
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem said he was “deeply saddened” by the news: “I am deeply saddened by the death of Patrick Tambay, a two-time Formula One Grand Prix winner and Le Mans 24 Hours driver.”
“The entire FIA community pays tribute to his remarkable life. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.
The McLaren team for which Tambay drove between 1978 and 1979 also issued a short statement: “We at McLaren are all saddened by the news of Patrick Tambay’s passing.”
“He was a talented driver, who raced for McLaren from 1978 to 1979. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.”
Soberly, the Alpine (formerly Renault) team said: “Rest in peace, Patrick Tambay. Always in the Alpine – Renault family.”
Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, for his part, underlined the “great talent” of Patrick Tambay throughout his career: “I am saddened by the news of Patrick Tambay’s death,” said the Italian.
“He was a great talent and an 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.”
After retiring from racing, Patrick Tambay worked as a commentator for French television and was also deputy mayor of the town of Le Cannet in the south of France. He was also the godfather of the 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve.
The mayor of Cannes in the Alpes Maritimes, David Lisnard, also paid tribute to this former Cannois: “He was at the start of 114 F1 Grand Prix, including with the McLaren, Ferrari and Renault teams. Patrick Tambay, a former inhabitant of Le Cannet where he had sent some of his children to school, was politically committed to his town and his department…” said David Lisnard on his social networks.
“I admired him as a high-level sportsman, notably as a talented Formula 1 driver, and knew him as a local elected official in Cannet. Always dignified and positive, even in illness, Patrick Tambay was a beautiful person.”
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