Thirty-eight years ago this week, a Frenchman was storming to his first Grand Prix win at his home race in Dijon. Few were watching. All eyes were on the duel behind for second
You’ve got to feel sorry for Jean-Pierre Jabouille. Charging to his and Renault’s first Grand Prix victory in front of his home crowd at Dijon-Prenois, this was the height of the Frenchman’s Grand Prix career, but few people would have been watching. That’s because all eyes and camera lenses were locked intently on the battle behind for second position between René Arnoux and Gilles Villeneuve. Many deem it to be one of Formula 1’s greatest.
It all began when Arnoux, who turned 69 yesterday, pulled off a scintillating pass into the long right hander of turn one, only for the French-Canadian to repay the favour on the same corner the next lap. Then ensued one of the most exciting duels F1 has ever seen with decisiveness, commitment, wheel-banging and respect demonstrated in equal measure. Villeneuve came out on top but Arnoux, less than a quarter of a second behind, had won the hearts of the French public with his first F1 podium. What a way to go about it.
Isack Hadjar wants them banned, George Russell champions their benefits and Max Verstappen questions their purpose - F1’s cooling vests have become an unlikely source of division
Nigel Mansell’s infamous final-lap failure in the 1991 Canadian GP exposed an unforeseen weakness in Williams’ sophisticated gearbox – and offers a striking parallel with F1’s software-driven problems today
The FIA has explained why cars lost power on the Sepang formation lap, and what Formula 1 will change for Singapore and Austin
Motor Sport F1 Show with Mark Hughes
Mark Hughes and Bryn Lucas look back on Verstappen's win at Sepang, a restart delayed by a software glitch, and what to expect in Singapore
