Alpine was the iconic Renault before the recent rebranding. The team has been around the Formula 1 circus for decades. However, today is a sad day for them as they lost their first winner, Jean-Pierre Jabouille. The French racing driver and engineer passed away at the age of 80. In 1979, he gave the team their first victory at Dijon-Prenois. However, Villeneuve and Arnoux’s battle for P2 took a big piece out of his limelight despite him being the only French driver to win a home race after 3 decades.

Towards the end of his F1 career, he had a glimpse of what could have been when he won the 1980 Austrian Grand Prix after keeping Alan Jones of Williams at bay. Though he never really saw the apex he deserved, his contribution to Renault is indispensable. Perhaps that’s why the team mourns his loss more than others. Today is about the historic legacy of Jabouille. The team was all set to embark on the said journey with high energy, but alas, they were faced with the news of their legend’s passing.

A huge loss for the French racing community and even F1, Jabouille’s legacy will live on.

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The Formula 1 fan came out to share their memories of the French legend. However, they weren’t the only ones; the F1 drivers and the French team joined them as well.

Likes of Esteban Ocon and Alain Prost join the fans to remember the legend.

The Alpine team which is owned by the Renault group expressed their grief, calling it a sad moment for motorsport.

The Formula 1 drivers, namely Esteban Ocon, and Pierre Gasly, voiced their sadness over the demise. To add to that, the French legend himself, Alain Prost who was also the late driver’s brother-in-law, conveyed remembered Jean.

Fans from all over chimed in, calling him an icon and remembering the great driver and his drive at Dijon, which was never really given due credit.

One fan even dug out a picture from the late icons trip to Monaco GP in 2017.

But the remembrance of the magic-filled Dijon race, which was a first win for a Turbo F1 car, continued.

For some, it was a memory of a rendezvous with him that they were reminded of.

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Standing at the helm of the new season, the motor sporting world mourns the loss of the French legend, Jean-Pierre Jabouille. He will be dearly missed. This is a sad day for France and the Formula 1 community. May his soul rest in peace.