Video: A Lesson in Car Control with Patrick Depailler

Patrick Depailler in Monaco, 1978, thanks to the Cahier Archive

There’s no dry line here! Patrick Depailler tackles Circuit Île Notre-Dame, Montreal, since renamed to Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, in absolutely appalling conditions to give us all a lesson in master car control.

The video is from 1978 ahead of the season finale Canadian Grand Prix which, appropriately, would see Gilles Villeneuve secure his maiden Formula 1 Grand Prix victory in his Ferrari.

Depailler himself would have a very exciting race, qualifying lucky thirteenth before storming up to fifth by the sixth lap, falling back again with technical troubles and finally fighting his way through the order to finish fifth.

In the clip Depailler masterfully slides his Tyrrell 008 across the mirror-like surface of the circuit, showing no particular concern for the apparent complete absence of grip. The soundtrack of the Tyrrell is magnificent, Murray Walker adds some perfect period personality, and the vision is spectacular.

If only modern motorsport was this sideways!