The Most Famous

RACING DRIVERS from France

This page contains a list of the greatest French Racing Drivers. The pantheon dataset contains 1,080 Racing Drivers, 93 of which were born in France. This makes France the birth place of the 4th most number of Racing Drivers behind Italy, and United States.

Top 10

The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the top 10 most legendary French Racing Drivers of all time. This list of famous French Racing Drivers is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography’s online popularity. Visit the rankings page to view the entire list of French Racing Drivers.

1. Alain Prost (b. 1955)

With an HPI of 69.82, Alain Prost is the most famous French Racing Driver. His biography has been translated into 66 different languages on wikipedia.

Alain Marie Pascal Prost (French pronunciation: [alɛ̃ pʁɔst]; born 24 February 1955) is a French former racing driver and motorsport executive, who competed in Formula One from 1980 to 1993. Nicknamed "The Professor", Prost won four Formula One World Drivers' Championship titles and—at the time of his retirement—held the records for most wins (51), fastest laps (41), and podium finishes (106). Born in Lorette, Loire, Prost took up karting aged 14, winning the junior direct-drive Karting World Cup four years later, and progressing to junior formulae in 1976. Prost won his first title at the Formula Renault National Championship that year, prior to winning the Challenge de Formule Renault Europe in 1977. Replaced by the French Formula Three Championship the following season, he successfully defended his titles in 1978 and 1979. Prost's junior career culminated in his victory at the 1979 FIA European Formula 3 Championship with Oreca. Prost signed for McLaren in 1980, making his Formula One debut at the Argentine Grand Prix, where he finished sixth. He moved to Renault in 1981, taking his maiden victory at his home Grand Prix in France, with further wins in the Netherlands and Italy. After achieving multiple race wins in his 1982 campaign with Renault, Prost finished runner-up to Nelson Piquet in the 1983 World Drivers' Championship after retiring with a turbo failure in the title decider. Prost was sacked by Renault two days later for his post-season comments and moved back to McLaren for the 1984 season, where he finished runner-up to teammate Niki Lauda by a record half-point. In 1985, Prost won his maiden title with McLaren, becoming the first French Formula One World Champion. He defended his title the following season, amidst a close title battle with Piquet and Nigel Mansell. After winning several races in 1987, Prost was partnered by Ayrton Senna. Together, they won all Grands Prix bar one in 1988—driving the Honda-powered MP4/4—with Senna taking the title by three points. Their fierce rivalry culminated in title-deciding collisions at Suzuka in 1989 and 1990, despite Prost's move to Ferrari in the latter, with Prost winning the former championship and Senna taking the following. Amidst a winless 1991 campaign for Ferrari, he was sacked by the team over comments made about the Ferrari 643. After a year hiatus, Prost returned with Williams in 1993, breaking several records on the way to his fourth championship and retiring at the end of the season. He returned to Formula One as the owner of Prost Grand Prix from 1997 to 2001, having purchased Ligier. Prost held an advisory role at Renault—later re-branded as Alpine—from 2017 to 2021. Outside of Formula One, Prost was a race-winner in the 2005 FFSA GT Championship, and entered the Race of Champions in 2010, representing France alongside Sébastien Loeb. In ice racing, Prost is a three-time champion of the Andros Trophy, competing from 2003 to 2012. He was the co-owner of Renault e.dams in Formula E until 2018, winning three consecutive Teams' Championships from 2014–15 to 2016–17. Prost was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1999.

2. François Cevert (1944 - 1973)

With an HPI of 63.90, François Cevert is the 2nd most famous French Racing Driver. His biography has been translated into 31 different languages.

Albert François Cevert (French pronunciation: [fʁɑ̃.swa se.vɛʁ]; 25 February 1944 – 6 October 1973) was a French racing driver, who competed in Formula One from 1969 to 1973. Cevert won the 1971 United States Grand Prix with Tyrrell. Cevert competed in Formula One for Tecno and Tyrrell, finishing third in the World Drivers' Championship in 1971. During qualifying for the 1973 United States Grand Prix, Cevert was killed when he crashed his Tyrrell 006 in an attempt at his maiden pole position.

3. Jean Todt (b. 1946)

With an HPI of 61.32, Jean Todt is the 3rd most famous French Racing Driver. His biography has been translated into 32 different languages.

Jean Henri Todt (French: [ʒɑ̃ tɔd]; born 25 February 1946) is a French motor racing executive and former rally co-driver. He was previously director of Peugeot Talbot Sport and then Scuderia Ferrari Formula 1 team principal, before being appointed chief executive officer of Ferrari from 2004 to 2008. From 2009 to 2021 he served as the ninth president of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). In 1966, Todt started his career as a rally co-driver and participated in World Championship rallies until 1981 when, with Guy Fréquelin, he won the Constructors' World Rally Championship with Talbot Lotus. Under Todt's leadership, Peugeot won four World Rally Championship titles (drivers and manufacturers), won the Paris-Dakar Rally four times, and twice won the Le Mans 24 Hours. During his time in charge at Ferrari, their teams won 13 Formula One World Championship titles (drivers and manufacturers). Also under Todt's leadership, Michael Schumacher won five consecutive World Drivers' Championships, from 2000 to 2004, and 72 of his 91 victories. In October 2009, Todt was elected President of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA); he was re-elected in December 2013 and December 2017. Todt's most recent term as FIA President ended in December 2021. On 29 April 2015, Todt had been appointed the United Nations' Special Envoy for Road Safety.

4. Didier Pironi (1952 - 1987)

With an HPI of 61.03, Didier Pironi is the 4th most famous French Racing Driver. His biography has been translated into 30 different languages.

Didier Joseph Louis Pironi (26 March 1952 – 23 August 1987) was a French racing driver and offshore powerboat racer, who competed in Formula One from 1978 to 1982. Pironi was runner-up in the Formula One World Drivers' Championship in 1982 with Ferrari, and won three Grands Prix across five seasons. In endurance racing, Pironi won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1978 with Renault. Born and raised in Val-de-Marne, Pironi was the half-brother of racing driver José Dolhem. After initially studying engineering, he enrolled at the Winfield Racing School at Paul Ricard, earning a scholarship to compete in Formula Renault, where he won the Eurocup in 1974 and 1976. After finishing third in the 1977 European Formula Two Championship, Pironi progressed to Formula One in 1978 with Tyrrell, making his debut at the Argentine Grand Prix. Pironi retained his seat at Tyrrell the following season, achieving his maiden podium at the Belgian Grand Prix. He moved to Ligier in 1980 to partner Jacques Laffite, taking his maiden win in Belgium—amongst several podiums—as he finished fifth in the standings. His performances at Ligier attracted the attention of Enzo Ferrari, who signed him to Ferrari in 1981 as the teammate of Gilles Villeneuve. Whilst leading the 1982 World Drivers' Championship, having controversially won the San Marino Grand Prix, Pironi was seriously injured during qualifying for the German Grand Prix, crashing his Ferrari 126C2 in very wet conditions and leaving him paralysed from the waist down. The accident came only three months after the death of Villeneuve, whose death was attributed to his rivalry with Pironi, who ultimately lost the title by five points to Keke Rosberg. He retired from racing with three wins, four pole positions, five fastest laps and 13 podiums in Formula One. Outside of Formula One, Pironi entered four editions of the 24 Hours of Le Mans from 1976 to 1980, winning in 1978 alongside Jean-Pierre Jaussaud, driving the Renault Alpine A442B. He was also a race-winner in the BMW M1 Procar Championship. In August 1987, Pironi died in an offshore powerboat racing accident near the Isle of Wight.

5. René Arnoux (b. 1948)

With an HPI of 60.53, René Arnoux is the 5th most famous French Racing Driver. His biography has been translated into 32 different languages.

René Alexandre Arnoux (French: [ʁə.ne a.lɛk.sɑ̃dʁ aʁ.nu]; born 4 July 1948) is a French former racing driver, who competed in Formula One from 1978 to 1989. Arnoux won seven Formula One Grands Prix across 12 seasons. In 1977, Arnoux won the European Formula Two Championship. His best finish in the World Drivers' Championship was third in 1983 for Ferrari. Arnoux achieved seven wins, 12 fastest laps and 22 podiums in Formula One. His 18 pole positions remains the record for a non-World Champion. Outside Formula One, he competed in the inaugural season of Grand Prix Masters in 2005.

6. Jacques Laffite (b. 1943)

With an HPI of 60.26, Jacques Laffite is the 6th most famous French Racing Driver. His biography has been translated into 28 different languages.

Jacques-Henri Laffite (French pronunciation: [ʒak ɑ̃.ʁi la.fit]; born 21 November 1943) is a French former racing driver and broadcaster, who competed in Formula One from 1974 to 1986. Laffite won six Formula One Grands Prix across 13 seasons. Born and raised in Paris, Laffite trained as a racing driver with the Winfield Racing School at Magny-Cours in 1968. Laffite twice entered the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Ligier before making his Formula One debut at the 1974 German Grand Prix with Frank Williams. Laffite remained at Frank Williams through the 1975 season, scoring his maiden podium at the German Grand Prix and winning the European Formula Two Championship with Martini. He moved to Ligier in 1976, taking several podiums amongst his maiden pole position in Italy. Laffite retained his seat the following season, taking his maiden win at the Swedish Grand Prix. After a winless season in 1978, Ligier constructed the highly-competitive JS11 in response to the ground effect era. Laffite won the opening two rounds of the 1979 season—including a grand slam at the Brazilian Grand Prix—but ultimately finished the championship in fourth after suffering eight retirements. Laffite again finished fourth in the 1980 and 1981 championships, losing out on the latter by six points to Nelson Piquet and taking several wins across both. Laffite failed to finish 11 of 15 Grands Prix in 1982, leaving for Williams at the end of the season. After two winless seasons with Williams, amongst further reliability issues, Laffite returned to Ligier in 1985, scoring several podiums. At the 1986 British Grand Prix, Laffite was seriously injured in a multi-car collision that broke both of his legs. He subsequently retired from Formula One, having achieved six wins, seven pole positions, seven fastest laps and 32 podiums. Outside of Formula One, Laffite was a race-winner in the World Sportscar Championship with Kauhsen, as well as in the BMW M1 Procar Championship with BMW. He competed in the World Touring Car Championship in 1987 with Alfa Corse, and the Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft from 1990 to 1992. Laffite entered nine editions of the 24 Hours of Le Mans from 1972 to 1996 across multiple classes. Upon retiring from motor racing, Laffite was a presenter for TF1 from 1997 to 2012.

7. Patrick Depailler (1944 - 1980)

With an HPI of 60.03, Patrick Depailler is the 7th most famous French Racing Driver. His biography has been translated into 22 different languages.

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).

8. Michèle Mouton (b. 1951)

With an HPI of 59.92, Michèle Mouton is the 8th most famous French Racing Driver. Her biography has been translated into 23 different languages.

Michèle Hélène Raymonde Mouton (born 23 June 1951) is a French former rally driver. Competing in the World Rally Championship for the Audi factory team, she took four victories and finished runner-up in the drivers' world championship in 1982. Mouton debuted in rallying as a co-driver but quickly moved to the driver's seat, steering an Alpine-Renault A110 in national rallies. In 1975, she competed in circuit racing and won the two-litre prototype class in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. After being signed by Fiat France for 1977, Mouton finished runner-up to Bernard Darniche in the European Rally Championship. She went on to win the 1978 Tour de France Automobile and record consistent results in her home events in the WRC; the Tour de Corse and the Monte Carlo Rally. For 1981, Audi Sport signed Mouton to partner Hannu Mikkola. In her first year with the Audi Quattro, she took a surprise victory at the Rallye Sanremo. In the 1982 World Rally season, Mouton finished a close second overall to Walter Röhrl, after wins in Portugal, Brazil and Greece, and helped Audi to its first manufacturers' title. Her campaign the following year resulted in fifth place. With the team having four top drivers for 1984, Mouton's participation on world championship level became part-time. In 1985, she won the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in the United States, setting a record time in the process. In 1986, she moved to Peugeot and won the German Rally Championship as the first female driver to win a major championship in rallying. Soon after securing the title, Mouton retired from rallying due to the ban of Group B supercars. In 1988, she co-founded the international motorsport event Race of Champions in memory of her former rival Henri Toivonen. Mouton became the first president of the FIA's Women & Motor Sport Commission in 2010 and the FIA's manager in the World Rally Championship in 2011.

9. Maurice Trintignant (1917 - 2005)

With an HPI of 58.71, Maurice Trintignant is the 9th most famous French Racing Driver. His biography has been translated into 29 different languages.

Maurice Bienvenu Jean Paul Trintignant (French pronunciation: [mɔʁis bjɛ̃v(ə)ny ʒɑ̃ pɔl tʁɛ̃tiɲɑ̃]; 30 October 1917 – 13 February 2005) was a French racing driver and winemaker, who competed in Formula One from 1950 to 1964. Trintignant won two Formula One Grands Prix across 15 seasons. In endurance racing, Trintignant won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1954 with Ferrari. Trintignant competed in Formula One for 11 teams, winning two Grands Prix across 15 seasons. He finished fourth in the 1954 and 1955 World Drivers' Championships with Ferrari. He entered 15 editions of the 24 Hours of Le Mans from 1950 to 1965, winning in 1954 alongside José Froilán González, driving the Ferrari 375 Plus, and finished runner-up in 1959. After retiring from motor racing, Trintignant moved into the winemaking trade, owning a vineyard in Languedoc-Roussillon, where he named his vintage Le Petoulet. Trintignant's nephew, Jean-Louis, was a highly successful actor in post-World War II France.

10. Patrick Tambay (1949 - 2022)

With an HPI of 58.65, Patrick Tambay is the 10th most famous French Racing Driver. His biography has been translated into 31 different languages.

Patrick Daniel Tambay (French pronunciation: [pa.tʁik da.njɛl tɑ̃.bɛ]; 25 June 1949 – 4 December 2022) was a French racing driver, broadcaster and politician, who competed in Formula One from 1977 to 1986. Tambay won two Formula One Grands Prix across nine seasons. Born and raised in Paris, Tambay gained training as a racing driver at the Winfield Racing School in 1971. Between 1977 and 1981, he raced for an assortment of teams including Surtees, Theodore, Ligier and McLaren with mixed results; he additionally won two Can-Am titles under Carl Haas in 1977 and 1980. Tambay was hired by Ferrari after the death of Gilles Villeneuve in 1982, taking his maiden victory four races later at the German Grand Prix. His second and final victory came the following season in San Marino, finishing the season a career-best fourth in the World Drivers' Championship. In 1984, Tambay moved to Renault, before ending his Formula One career at Haas Lola, having achieved two wins, five pole positions, two fastest laps and 11 podiums. Tambay competed in various forms of motorsport following his departure from Formula One, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the World Sportscar Championship, and the Dakar Rally.

People

Pantheon has 101 people classified as French racing drivers born between 1896 and 2004. Of these 101, 58 (57.43%) of them are still alive today. The most famous living French racing drivers include Alain Prost, Jean Todt, and René Arnoux. The most famous deceased French racing drivers include François Cevert, Didier Pironi, and Patrick Depailler. As of April 2024, 8 new French racing drivers have been added to Pantheon including Gilles Panizzi, Philippe Bugalski, and Cyril Despres.