Editing Gilles Villeneuve

{{Short description|Canadian racing driver (1950–1982)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name          = Gilles Villeneuve
| image         = Gilles Villeneuve 1979 Portrait.jpg
| caption       = Villeneuve in 1979
| birth_name    = Joseph Gilles Henri Villeneuve
| birth_date    = {{birth date|1950|01|18|df=y}}
| birth_place   = [[Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu]], Quebec, Canada
| death_date    = {{death date and age|1982|05|08|1950|01|18|df=y}}
| death_place   = [[Leuven]], Flanders, Belgium
| death_cause   = [[1982 Belgian Grand Prix#Qualifying and death of Gilles Villeneuve|Injuries sustained at the 1982 Belgian Grand Prix]]
| spouse        = {{marriage|Joann Barthe|1970}}
| children      = 2, including [[Jacques Villeneuve|Jacques]]
| relatives     = [[Jacques Villeneuve (racing driver, born 1953)|Jacques-Joseph Villeneuve]] (brother)
| signature     = Tanda Tangan Gilles Villeneuve.png
| signature_alt = G Villeneuve
| module        = {{Infobox F1 driver|embed=yes
| Nationality   = {{flagicon|CAN}} [[Formula One drivers from Canada|Canadian]]
| Years         = {{F1|1977}}–{{F1|1982}} 
| Team(s)       = [[McLaren]], [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]]
| Races         = 68 (67 starts)
| Championships = 0
| Wins          = 6
| Podiums       = 13
| Points        = 101 (107){{efn|name="droppedpoints"|Up until {{F1|1990}}, not all points scored by a driver contributed to their final World Championship tally (see [[List of Formula One World Championship points scoring systems|list of points scoring systems]] for more information). Numbers without parentheses are Championship points; numbers in parentheses are total points scored.<ref>{{cite web|last=Diepraam|first=Mattijs|title=World Championship points systems|url=http://8w.forix.com/6thgear/points.html|work=8W|date=January 18, 2019|access-date=November 5, 2020}}</ref>}}
| Poles         = 2
| Fastest laps  = 8
| First race    = {{F1GP||1977 British}}
| First win     = {{F1GP||1978 Canadian}}
| Last win      = {{F1GP||1981 Spanish}}
| Last race     = {{F1GP||1982 Belgian}}
}}
}}

'''Joseph Gilles Henri Villeneuve''' ({{IPA|fr|ʒil vil.nœv}}; 18 January 1950 – 8 May 1982) was a Canadian [[racing driver]], who competed in [[Formula One]] from {{F1|1977}} to {{F1|1982}}. Villeneuve was runner-up in the [[Formula One World Drivers' Championship]] in {{F1|1979}} with [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]], and won six [[Formula One Grands Prix|Grands Prix]] across six seasons.

A racing enthusiast from an early age, Villeneuve started his career in [[snowmobile racing]] across his native province of [[Quebec]]. He soon progressed to [[open-wheel racing]], winning the regional [[Formula Ford]] championship in 1973 before graduating to [[Formula Atlantic]], where he won two [[Atlantic Championship Series|Canadian Championships]] in [[1976 Formula Atlantic season CASC|1976]] and [[1977 Formula Atlantic season|1977]], and the [[Atlantic Championship Series|American Championship]] in [[1976 Formula Atlantic season IMSA|1976]]. Villeneuve made his Formula One debut with [[McLaren]] at the [[1977 British Grand Prix]], impressing [[Enzo Ferrari]], who signed him with [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] for {{F1|1978}}. He made an early debut for the team at the {{F1GP|1977|Canadian}} after the departure of [[World Drivers' Championship|World Champion]] [[Niki Lauda]], and was involved in a collision with [[Ronnie Peterson]] which killed two bystanders at the season-ending {{F1GP|1977|Japanese}}. Amidst struggles with [[Michelin]]'s [[radial tyre]]s the following year, Villeneuve took his maiden podium in [[1978 Austrian Grand Prix|Austria]] before winning [[1978 Canadian Grand Prix|his home Grand Prix in Canada]]. He won several races in {{F1|1979}}, ultimately finishing the championship runner-up to teammate [[Jody Scheckter]] by four points. Villeneuve earned widespread acclaim for his performances, including his duel with [[René Arnoux]] at the {{F1GP|1979|French}}. After a winless season for Ferrari with the [[Ferrari 312T5|312T5]] in {{F1|1980}}, Villeneuve took back-to-back wins at the [[1981 Monaco Grand Prix|Monaco]] and [[1981 Spanish Grand Prix|Spanish]] Grands Prix in {{F1|1981}}, earning further acclaim for his defensive tactics at the latter.

During qualifying for the [[1982 Belgian Grand Prix]] at [[Circuit Zolder|Zolder]], Villeneuve died as the result of a collision with [[Jochen Mass]]. He achieved six wins, two pole positions, eight fastest laps and 13 podiums in Formula One. At the time of his death, Villeneuve was widely popular in the motorsport community, and has since become an iconic figure in the history of the sport. The [[Circuit Île Notre-Dame]] in [[Montreal]] was renamed the ''Circuit Gilles Villeneuve'' upon his death, home of the [[Canadian Grand Prix]] since his 1978 victory. His son, [[Jacques Villeneuve|Jacques]], won the [[World Drivers' Championship]] in {{F1|1997}}, becoming the [[Formula One drivers from Canada|first World Drivers' Champion from Canada]]. Alongside Jacques, Villeneuve is an inductee of the [[Canadian Motor Sports Hall of Fame]] and [[Canada's Sports Hall of Fame]].

==Personal and early life==
Villeneuve was born January 18, 1950, to piano-tuner Seville Villeneuve (1926–1987) and his wife Georgette ([[née]] Coupal; 1925–2008) at [[Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu]] in the province of [[Quebec]], Canada and grew up in [[Berthierville, Quebec|Berthierville]].<ref>Donaldson (2003) pp.11–13</ref> In 1970 he married Joann Barthe, with whom he had two children, [[Jacques Villeneuve|Jacques]] and Mélanie.<ref>Donaldson (2003) pp.27–29</ref> During his early career Villeneuve took his family on the road with him in a motorhome during the racing season, a habit which he continued to some extent during his Formula One career.<ref>Donaldson (2003)  pp.50–51, 114</ref> At the time of his death Gilles was reportedly considering divorce from Joann: he had long been having an extramarital affair with a Torontonian woman.<ref>{{cite news|last=Myles|first=Stephanie|title=Villeneuves' rags-to-riches story|url=https://www.pressreader.com/canada/montreal-gazette/20070512/282252366095410|work=Montreal Gazette|page=D1|date=May 12, 2007|access-date=November 18, 2020|via=PressReader}}</ref>

Villeneuve often claimed to have been born in 1952. By the time he made his debut in Formula One, he was already 27 years old and subtracted two years from his age to avoid being considered too old to find success at the highest level of motorsport.<ref>Donaldson (2003) p.11</ref> His younger brother [[Jacques Villeneuve (racing driver, born 1953)|Jacques]] also had a successful racing career in Formula Atlantic, [[Can-Am]] and [[Championship Auto Racing Teams|CART]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns19993.html|title=Jacques Villeneuve (Senior) injured|publisher=Inside F1, Inc|access-date=February 20, 2009|archive-date=November 5, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081105083343/http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns19993.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Gilles' son, also named Jacques, won the [[Indianapolis 500]] and CART championships in 1995 and became Formula One World Champion in 1997.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.formula1.com/teams_and_drivers/hall_of_fame/5/|title=Hall of Fame: Jacques Villeneuve|last=Donaldson|first=Gerald|publisher=Formula One Administration Ltd.|access-date=February 20, 2009|archive-date=March 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150306020405/http://www.formula1.com/teams_and_drivers/hall_of_fame/5/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Early career==
[[File:Magnum MkIII Villeneuve Mont-Tremblant.JPG|thumb|right|Villeneuve's 1973 [[Magnum Cars|Magnum]] MkIII [[Formula Ford]] car, with which he won the Quebec Formula Ford championship]]
Villeneuve started competitive driving in local drag-racing events, entering his road car, a modified 1967 [[Ford Mustang]]. He soon became bored by this<ref>Donaldson (2003)  p.21</ref> and entered the Jim Russell Racing School at [[Circuit Mont-Tremblant]] to gain a racing licence. He then had a very successful season in Quebec regional [[Formula Ford]], running his own two-year-old car and winning seven of the ten races he entered.<ref>Donaldson (2003) p.30–31</ref> The next year he progressed to [[Formula Atlantic]], where he would compete for four seasons, running his own car again for one of those seasons. He won his first Atlantic race in 1975 at Gimli Motorsport Park in heavy rain. In 1976, teamed with Chris Harrison's Ecurie Canada and factory March [[race engineer]] Ray Wardell, he dominated the season by winning all but one of the races and taking the US and Canadian titles. He won the Canadian championship again in 1977.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Kirby|first=Gordon|title=Trans-Atlantic Roots|url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/may-2012/62/tarns-atlantic-roots|journal=Motor Sport|date=May 2012|pages=62–66|volume=88|issue=5|access-date=May 14, 2020|url-status=live|archive-date=November 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201102080649/https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/may-2012/62/tarns-atlantic-roots}}</ref>

Money was an issue in Villeneuve's early career. He was a professional racing driver from his late teens, with no other income. In the first few years the bulk of his income in fact came from [[snowmobile]] racing, where he was extremely successful. He could demand appearance money as well as race money, especially after winning the 1974 [[World Championship Snowmobile Derby]]. His second season in Formula Atlantic was part-sponsored by his snowmobile manufacturer, Skiroule.<ref>Donaldson (2003) p.41</ref> He credited some of his success to his snowmobiling days: <blockquote>Every winter, you would reckon on three or four big spills — and I'm talking about being thrown on to the ice at 100 miles per hour. Those things used to slide a lot, which taught me a great deal about control. And the visibility was ''terrible''! Unless you were leading, you could see nothing, with all the snow blowing about. Good for the reactions — and it stopped me having any worries about racing in the rain.<ref name=roebuck1>Roebuck (1986) p.211</ref></blockquote>

==Formula One career==
After Villeneuve impressed [[James Hunt]] by beating him and several other Grand Prix stars in a non-championship Formula Atlantic race at [[Circuit Trois-Rivières|Trois-Rivières]] in 1976, Hunt's [[McLaren]] team offered Villeneuve a Formula One deal for up to five races in a third car during the [[1977 Formula One season|1977 season]].<ref>Donaldson (2003) pp.63–67</ref> Villeneuve made his debut at the [[1977 British Grand Prix]], where he qualified 9th in McLaren's old [[McLaren M23|M23]], separating the regular drivers Hunt and [[Jochen Mass]] who were driving newer [[McLaren M26|M26s]]. In the race he set fifth fastest lap and finished 11th after being delayed for two laps by a faulty temperature gauge. The British press coverage of Villeneuve's performance was generally complimentary, including John Blunsden's comment in ''[[The Times]]'' that "Anyone seeking a future World Champion need look no further than this quietly assured young man."<ref>Donaldson (2003) p.88. [[Denis Jenkinson]] noted "the smooth, confident way that he had driven" and [[Nigel Roebuck]] said that he had "demonstrated enormous natural talent."</ref>

Despite this, shortly after the British race McLaren's experienced team manager [[Teddy Mayer]] decided not to continue with Villeneuve for the following year. His explanation was that Villeneuve "was looking as though he might be a bit expensive" and that [[Patrick Tambay]], the team's eventual choice for 1978, was showing similar promise.<ref>Donaldson (2003) pp.90–91</ref> Villeneuve was left with no solid options for 1978, although Canadian [[Walter Wolf]], for whom Villeneuve had driven in [[Can-Am]] racing, considered giving him a drive at [[Walter Wolf Racing|Wolf Racing]]. Rumours circulated that Villeneuve was one of several drivers in whom [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari's team]] was interested, and in August 1977 he flew to Italy to meet [[Enzo Ferrari]], who was immediately reminded of [[Tazio Nuvolari]], the pre-war [[AIACR European Championship|European champion]]. "When they presented me with this 'piccolo Canadese' (little Canadian), this minuscule bundle of nerves, I immediately recognised in him the physique of Nuvolari and said to myself, let's give him a try."<ref>Donaldson (2003) pp.107–108</ref> Ferrari was satisfied with Villeneuve's promise after a session at Ferrari's [[Fiorano Circuit|Fiorano]] test track, despite the Canadian making many mistakes and setting relatively slow times, and Villeneuve signed to drive for Ferrari in the last two races of 1977, as well as the full 1978 season.<ref>Donaldson (2003) pp.95–104</ref> Villeneuve later remarked that: "If someone said to me that you can have three wishes, my first would have been to get into racing, my second to be in Formula 1, my third to drive for Ferrari..."<ref name=roebuck1 />

Villeneuve's arrival was prompted by Ferrari driver [[Niki Lauda]] quitting the team at the penultimate race of the 1977 season, the {{F1GP|1977|Canadian}} at [[Mosport Park]] near [[Toronto]], having already clinched his second championship with the Italian team.<ref>Donaldson (2003) p.111</ref> Villeneuve retired from his home race after sliding off the track on another competitor's oil. He also raced in the last race of that season, the {{F1GP|1977|Japanese}} at the Mount Fuji Speedway near Tokyo but retired on lap five when he tried to outbrake the [[Tyrrell P34]] of [[Ronnie Peterson]]. The pair banged wheels causing Villeneuve's Ferrari to become airborne. It landed on a group of spectators watching the race from a prohibited area, killing one spectator and a [[Motorsport marshal|race marshal]] and injuring seven people. After an investigation into the incident no blame was apportioned and, although he was "terribly sad" at the deaths, Villeneuve did not feel responsible for them.<ref>Donaldson (2003) pp.120–122</ref>

[[File:Gilles_Villeneuve_imola_1979.jpg|thumb|left|Villeneuve sitting on his car at [[Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari|Imola]] in {{F1|1979}}]]
The [[1978 Formula One season|1978 season]] saw a succession of retirements for Villeneuve, often after problems with the new [[Michelin]] [[radial tyre]]s. Early in the season, he started on the front row at the [[1978 United States Grand Prix West|United States Grand Prix West in Long Beach]], but crashed out of the lead on lap&nbsp;39. Despite calls in the Italian press for him to be replaced, Ferrari persisted with him. Towards the end of the season, Villeneuve's results improved. He finished second on the road at the {{F1GP|1978|Italian}}, although he was penalised a minute for jumping the start, and ran second at the {{F1GP|1978|United States}} before his engine failed. Finally at the season-ending {{F1GP|1978|Canadian}}, this time at the Circuit Notre Dame Island in Montreal (a circuit that was eventually named after him) Villeneuve scored his first Grand Prix win after [[Jean-Pierre Jarier]]'s Lotus stopped with engine trouble.<ref>Fearnley (August 2006)</ref> To date, he remains the only Canadian to win the Canadian Grand Prix.<ref>{{cite news|last=Beacon|first=Bill|title=Gilles Villeneuve's 1978 winning car to get show drive by son at Canada GP|url=https://nationalpost.com/pmn/sports-pmn/gilles-villeneuves-1978-winning-car-to-get-show-drive-by-son-at-canada-gp|work=National Post|agency=The Canadian Press|date=June 7, 2018|access-date=May 9, 2019|url-status=live|archive-date=November 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201105075732/https://nationalpost.com/pmn/sports-pmn/gilles-villeneuves-1978-winning-car-to-get-show-drive-by-son-at-canada-gp}}</ref>

[[File:GillesVilleneuve ReneArnoux Dijion1979.jpg|thumb|right|In the [[1979 French Grand Prix]] Villeneuve and [[René Arnoux]] had a memorable duel for second place.]]
Villeneuve was joined by [[Jody Scheckter]] in 1979 after [[Carlos Reutemann]] moved to [[Team Lotus|Lotus]]. Villeneuve won three races during the year and even briefly led the championship after winning back to back races in Long Beach and Kyalami. However, the season is mostly remembered for Villeneuve's wheel-banging duel with [[René Arnoux]] in the last laps of the [[1979 French Grand Prix]].<ref>Donaldson (2003) p.184–187</ref> Arnoux passed Villeneuve for second place with three laps to go, but Villeneuve re-passed him on the next lap. On the final lap Arnoux attempted to pass Villeneuve again, and the pair ran side by side through the first few corners of the lap, making contact several times. Arnoux took the position but Villeneuve attempted an outside pass one corner later. The cars bumped hard, Villeneuve slid wide but then passed Arnoux on the inside at a hairpin turn and held him off for the last half of the lap to secure second place. Villeneuve commented afterwards, "I tell you, that was really fun! I thought for sure we were going to get on our heads, you know, because when you start interlocking wheels it's very easy for one car to climb over another."<ref>Donaldson (2003) p.187</ref> At the {{F1GP|1979|Dutch}} a slow puncture collapsed Villeneuve's left rear tyre and put him off the track. He returned to the circuit and limped back to the [[Pit stop|pit lane]] on three wheels, losing the damaged wheel on the way. On his return to the pit lane Villeneuve insisted that the team replace the missing wheel, and had to be persuaded that the car was beyond repair.<ref>Donaldson (2003) pp.194–196</ref> Villeneuve might have won the World Championship by ignoring team orders to beat Scheckter at the {{F1 GP|1979|Italian}}, but chose to finish behind him, ending his own championship challenge. The pair finished first and second in the championship, with Scheckter beating Villeneuve by just four points. During the extremely wet Friday practice session for the season-ending {{F1GP|1979|United States}}, Villeneuve set a time variously reported to be either 9 or 11 seconds faster than any other driver. His teammate Jody Scheckter, who was second fastest, recalled that "I scared myself rigid that day. I thought I had to be quickest. Then I saw Gilles's time and — I still don't really understand how it was possible. Eleven seconds!"<ref>Roebuck (1986) p.208 gives the gap as 11 seconds. Walker (January 1980) reports the gap to be 9 seconds. Autosport (October 11, 1979 p. 17) reports Villeneuve's lap to be 2:01.437 and second placed Scheckter's 2:11.089, a gap being 9.652 sec</ref>

The [[1980 Formula One season|1980 season]] was sub-par for Ferrari. Villeneuve had been considered favourite for the Drivers' Championship by bookmakers in the United Kingdom,<ref>Donaldson (2003) p.223</ref> though he only scored six points in the whole campaign in the [[Ferrari 312T|312T5]] which had only partial [[ground effect in cars|ground effects]]. Scheckter scored only two points and retired at the end of the season.

For the [[1981 Formula One season|1981 season]], Ferrari introduced their first turbocharged engined F1 car, the [[Ferrari 126 C|126C]], which produced tremendous power but was let down by its poor handling. Villeneuve was partnered with [[Didier Pironi]] who noted that Villeneuve "had a little family [at Ferrari] but he made me welcome and made me feel at home overnight&nbsp;... [He] treated me as an equal in every way."<ref>Donaldson (2003) p.240</ref>  Villeneuve won two races during the season. At the {{F1GP|1981|Spanish}} Villeneuve kept five quicker cars behind him for most of the race using the superior straight-line speed of his car. After an hour and 46 minutes of racing, Villeneuve led second-placed [[Jacques Laffite]] by only 0.22 seconds. Fifth-placed [[Elio de Angelis]] was only just over a second further back.<ref>Donaldson (2003) pp.253–256</ref> [[Harvey Postlethwaite]], who was hired by Ferrari to design the follow-on and much more successful 126C2 that won the Constructors' Championship in 1982, later commented on the 126C: "That car...had literally one quarter of the downforce that, say Williams or Brabham had. It had a power advantage over the Cosworths for sure, but it also had massive throttle lag at that time. In terms of sheer ability I think Gilles was on a different plane to the other drivers. To win those races, the 1981 GPs at Monaco and Jarama — on tight circuits — was quite out of this world. I ''know'' how bad that car was."<ref>Roebuck (1986) p.214</ref> At the [[1981 Canadian Grand Prix]] Villeneuve damaged the front wing of his Ferrari and drove for most of the race in heavy rain with the wing obscuring his view ahead. There was a risk of being disqualified but eventually the wing detached and Villeneuve drove on to finish third with the nose section of his car missing.<ref>{{cite web|last=Fagnan|first=René|title=1981 Canadian Grand Prix – Gilles Villeneuve never surrenders|url=https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/1981-canadian-grand-prix-gilles-villeneuve-never-surrenders-906337/906337/|publisher=motorsport.com|date=May 19, 2017|access-date=May 9, 2019|url-status=live|archive-date=May 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190509055323/https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/1981-canadian-grand-prix-gilles-villeneuve-never-surrenders-906337/906337/}}</ref>

He was offered a deal by team owner [[Ron Dennis]] to rejoin McLaren in 1982, which he rejected because he was nervous over ending his contract with Ferrari but optimistic that the Italian team would be competitive.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Hughes|first=Mark|author-link=Mark Hughes (journalist)|date=May 2012|title=What if ...? When Gilles Villeneuve died 30 years ago, the world lost the chance to see the fastest driver in F1 history fulfill his potential in a car worthy of his talents. And it would have happened ...|url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A286719591/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=083345a1|journal=[[Racer (magazine)|Racer]]|pages=68+|url-access=subscription|access-date=May 14, 2020|via=Gale In Context: Biography}}</ref> The first few races of the [[1982 Formula One season|1982 season]] saw Villeneuve leading in Brazil in the new 126C2, before spinning into retirement, and finishing third at the [[1982 United States Grand Prix West|United States Grand Prix West]] before being disqualified for a technical infringement. The Ferraris were handed an unexpected advantage at the {{F1GP|1982|San Marino}} as an escalation of the [[FISA–FOCA war]] saw the FOCA teams boycott the race, effectively leaving Renault as Ferrari's only serious opposition. With Renault driver Prost retiring from fourth place on lap 7 followed by his teammate Arnoux on the 44th lap, Ferrari seemed to have the win guaranteed. In order to conserve fuel and ensure the cars finished, the Ferrari team ordered both drivers to slow down. Villeneuve believed that the order also meant that the drivers were to maintain position but Pironi passed Villeneuve. A few laps later Villeneuve re-passed Pironi and slowed down again, believing that Pironi was simply trying to entertain the Italian crowd. On the last lap Pironi passed and aggressively chopped across the front of Gilles in Villeneuve corner and took the win. Villeneuve was irate as he believed that Pironi had disobeyed the order to hold position. Meanwhile, Pironi claimed that he had done nothing wrong as the team had only ordered the cars to slow down, not maintain position. Villeneuve stated after the race "I think it is well known that if I want someone to stay behind me and I am faster, then he stays behind me."<ref>Roebuck (1999) p.182</ref> Feeling betrayed and angry Villeneuve vowed never to speak to Pironi again.<ref>Donaldson (2003) p.289</ref>

In 2007, [[John Hogan (motorsport executive)|John Hogan]], the retired Vice President of Marketing at Ferrari sponsor Phillip Morris and later Jaguar Racing team principal who was at the sponsor during Villeneuve's career, disputed the claim that Pironi had gone back on a prior arrangement with Villeneuve. He said: "Neither of them would ever have agreed to what effectively was throwing a race. I think Gilles was stunned somebody had out-driven him and that it just caught him so much by surprise."  A comparison of the lap times of the two drivers showed that Villeneuve lapped far slower when he was in the lead, suggesting that he had indeed been trying to save fuel.<ref name="f1fdoubtovervpfacts">{{cite web | title = Doubt over facts of Villeneuve-Pironi row | publisher = F1Fanatic.co.uk | year = 2007 | url = http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2007/07/24/doubt-over-facts-of-villeneuve-pironi-row/ | access-date = July 24, 2007 | archive-date = October 25, 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071025035044/http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2007/07/24/doubt-over-facts-of-villeneuve-pironi-row/ | url-status = live }}</ref>

==Death==

{{See also|1982 Belgian Grand Prix}}
On May 8, 1982, Villeneuve died after an accident during the final qualifying session for the {{F1GP|1982|Belgian}} at [[Zolder]]. At the time of the crash, Pironi had set a time one-tenth of a second faster than Villeneuve for sixth place. Villeneuve was using his final set of qualifying tyres; some say he was attempting to improve his time on his final lap, while others suggest he was specifically aiming to beat Pironi.<ref>Bamsey (1983) p.50, Lang (1992) pp.96–97, Watkins (1997) p.98  and Fearnley (May 2007) all write that Villeneuve was attempting to beat Pironi. Jenkinson (June 1982) writes only that he "was in the middle of a last desperate bid to improve his grid position."</ref>  However, Villeneuve's biographer Gerald Donaldson quotes Ferrari race engineer [[Mauro Forghieri]] as saying that the Canadian, although pressing on in his usual fashion, was returning to the pit lane when the accident occurred. If so, he would not have set a time on that lap.<ref name=GD1>Donaldson (2003) pp.296–298</ref>

With eight minutes of the session left, Villeneuve came over the rise after the first chicane and caught Jochen Mass travelling much more slowly through ''Butte'', the left-handed bend before the ''Terlamenbocht'' double right-hand section. Mass saw Villeneuve approaching at high speed and moved to the right to let him through on the [[racing line]]. At the same instant Villeneuve also moved right to pass the slower car. The Ferrari hit the back of Mass' car and was launched into the air at a speed estimated to be {{convert|200-225|km/h|mph|||abbr=on}}. It was airborne for more than {{Convert|100|m|ft|abbr=on}} before nosediving into the ground and breaking apart as it somersaulted along the edge of the track. Villeneuve, still strapped to his seat, but now without his helmet, was thrown a further {{Convert|50|m|ft|abbr=on}} from the wreckage into the [[Catch fence|catch fencing]] on the outside edge of the ''Terlamenbocht'' corner.<ref name=GD1 /><ref>Lang (1992) p.97</ref>

Several drivers stopped and rushed to the scene. [[John Watson (racing driver)|John Watson]] and [[Derek Warwick]] pulled Villeneuve, his face blue, from the catch fence.<ref>Fearnley (May 2007)</ref> The first doctor arrived within 35&nbsp;seconds to find that Villeneuve was not breathing, although with a pulse; he was [[intubate]]d and ventilated before being transferred to the circuit medical centre and subsequently by helicopter to [[UZ Leuven|University St Raphael Hospital]] in [[Leuven]] where a fatal [[cervical fracture|fracture of the neck]] was diagnosed.<ref>Watkins (1997) pp.96–98</ref> Villeneuve was kept alive on [[life support]] while his wife travelled to the hospital and the doctors consulted specialists worldwide. He died at 21:12 [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]] ([[UTC+2]]).<ref name=GD1 /> An inquiry into the accident was led by Derek Ongaro, the safety inspector for [[Fédération Internationale du Sport Automobile]] (FISA),<ref>{{Cite news|date=May 9, 1982|title=The horrifying crash that snapped the life from race...|work=[[United Press International]]|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/05/09/The-horrifying-crash-that-snapped-the-life-from-race/4136389764800/|url-status=live|access-date=May 14, 2020|archive-date=November 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201105075808/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/05/09/The-horrifying-crash-that-snapped-the-life-from-race/4136389764800/}}</ref> which concluded that an error from Villeneuve caused him to strike Mass' car and exonerated the latter of any responsibility for the accident.<ref>{{Cite news|date=May 28, 1982|title=Sports People; Auto Racer Cleared|work=The New York Times|url=http://www.nytimes.com/1982/05/28/sports/sports-people-auto-racer-cleared.html|url-status=live|access-date=May 14, 2020|archive-date=May 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524122352/http://www.nytimes.com/1982/05/28/sports/sports-people-auto-racer-cleared.html}}</ref>

==Helmet==

[[File:Gilles Villeneuve helmet Museo Ferrari.jpg|thumb|Gilles Villeneuve helmet (Museo Ferrari)]]
Villeneuve's helmet had a base colour of dark blue, with a stylised 'V' in orange on either side—an effect he devised with his wife Joann.<ref>Donaldson, Gerald (1989, 2003) ''Gilles Villeneuve'' p.95 Virgin Books {{ISBN|0-7535-0747-1}}</ref> Gilles' son, Jacques, started racing equipped with his father's old helmet and boots. British driver [[Perry McCarthy]] also used this design and colour scheme on his helmet, but with the design in reverse.<ref>{{cite web|last=Garcia|first=Álex|title=Cascos históricos: Gilles Villeneuve|trans-title=Historical centers: Gilles Villeneuve|url=https://www.diariomotor.com/competicion/2015/06/09/cascos-historicos-gilles-villeneuve/|publisher=Diario Motor|language=es|date=June 9, 2015|access-date=May 9, 2019|url-status=live|archive-date=May 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190509055325/https://www.diariomotor.com/competicion/2015/06/09/cascos-historicos-gilles-villeneuve/}}</ref>

Ferrari driver [[Charles Leclerc]] wore a one-off tribute helmet to Villeneuve at the [[2023 Canadian Grand Prix]], using a similar design.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Leclerc honours Gilles Villeneuve with Canadian GP helmet tribute|url=https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/leclerc-honours-gilles-villeneuve-with-canadian-gp-helmet-tribute/10483557/|website=Autosport|date=16 June 2023|access-date=9 October 2024}}</ref>

==Legacy==

In total, Villeneuve competed in 67 Grands Prix, winning six of them and achieving thirteen podium finishes.<ref name=":0">{{cite encyclopedia|last1=Ferguson|last2=Gee|url-status=live|archive-date=April 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200428044336/https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/gilles-villeneuve|date=December 18, 2006|access-date=May 14, 2020|first1=Bob|url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/gilles-villeneuve|title=Gilles Villeneuve|encyclopedia=[[The Canadian Encyclopedia]]|first2=Michael}}</ref> At his funeral in Berthierville, former teammate Jody Scheckter delivered the eulogy: "For me, firstly, Gilles was the most genuine person I ever knew. Secondly, he was the fastest racing driver that history has ever known. He went doing something that he loved, but he hasn't left us, because the world will remember what he has given to motor racing."<ref>Jody Scheckter at Gilles Villeneuve's Funeral. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jww4exylILs</ref> In Villeneuve's entry in ''[[The Canadian Encyclopedia]]'', Bob Ferguson and Michael Gee wrote that retrospective comments were complimentary of his driving, and said he was approachable and spoke informally to the media and fans.<ref name=":0" /> Niki Lauda said of him: "He was the craziest devil I ever came across in Formula 1... The fact that, for all this, he was a sensitive and lovable character rather than an out-and-out hell-raiser made him such a unique human being".<ref name="bbcsp1">{{cite news|date=February 19, 2001|title=Legends claimed by the track|work=BBC Sport|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/1178492.stm|url-status=live|access-date=May 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200530075102/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/1178492.stm|archive-date=May 30, 2020}}</ref>

Villeneuve is still remembered at Grand Prix races, especially those in Italy. At the [[Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari]], the venue of the [[San Marino Grand Prix]] and [[Emilia Romagna Grand Prix]], a corner was named after him and a Canadian flag is painted on the third slot on the starting grid, from which he started his last race. A bronze bust of Villeneuve stands at the entrance to the Ferrari test track at Fiorano.<ref name=GD2>Donaldson (2003) pp.305–306</ref> At Zolder the corner where Villeneuve died has been turned into a [[chicane]] and named after him.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/cir-076.html|title=Zolder|publisher=Inside F1, inc|access-date=February 8, 2009|archive-date=February 3, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203214554/http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/cir-076.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Circuit Gilles Villeneuve MAM2.JPG|thumb|right|"Salut Gilles" sign at the [[Circuit Gilles Villeneuve]] start-finish line]]
The racetrack on [[Notre Dame Island]] in Montreal, host to the Formula One [[Canadian Grand Prix]], was named [[Circuit Gilles Villeneuve]] in his honour at the 1982 Canadian Grand Prix and a sign reading “Salut Gilles” was painted at the start/finish line. His home country has continued to honour him: in Berthierville a museum was opened in 1992 and a lifelike statue stands in a nearby park which was also named in his honour.<ref name=GD2 /> Villeneuve was inducted into the [[Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame]] at their inaugural induction ceremony at the [[Four Seasons Hotel]], Toronto, [[Ontario]] on August 19, 1993.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gilles Villeneuve|url=https://cmhf.ca/gilles-villeneuve/|publisher=Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame|access-date=May 8, 2019|archive-date=May 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508161834/https://cmhf.ca/gilles-villeneuve/|url-status=live}}</ref> He was also inducted into [[Canada's Sports Hall of Fame]] in 1983.<ref>{{cite web|last=Brazeau|first=Jonathan|title=Fan Fuel: Remembering Gilles Villeneuve|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/fanfuel/gilles-villeneuve-jacques-villeneuve/|publisher=Sportsnet|date=May 8, 2012|access-date=May 8, 2019|url-status=live|archive-date=May 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508161821/https://www.sportsnet.ca/fanfuel/gilles-villeneuve-jacques-villeneuve/}}</ref> In June 1997 Canada issued a [[List of people on stamps of Canada|postage stamp]] in his honour.<ref>{{cite news|title=Villeneuve won six Formula One races|url=https://canadianstampnews.com/villeneuve-won-six-formula-one-races/|work=Canadian Stamp News|date=October 8, 2014|access-date=May 8, 2019|url-status=live|archive-date=May 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508161826/https://canadianstampnews.com/villeneuve-won-six-formula-one-races/}}</ref>

There is still a huge demand for Villeneuve memorabilia at the race-track shops and several books have been written about him. The number 27, the number of his Ferrari in 1981 and 1982, is still closely associated with him by fans. Villeneuve's son, Jacques, drove the No. 27 during his [[1995 IndyCar season|IndyCar]] and [[1995 Indianapolis 500|Indianapolis 500]] winning season with [[Andretti Autosport#CART|Team Green]], and has also used the number for occasional drives in [[NASCAR]] and the [[Speedcar Series]].<ref>{{cite news|last=McDonald|first=Norris|author-link=Norris McDonald|title=Burlington racer to be Villeneuve's NASCAR engineer|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/2007/09/04/burlington_racer_to_be_villeneuves_nascar_engineer.html|work=Toronto Star|date=September 4, 2007|access-date=May 9, 2019|url-status=live|archive-date=May 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190509050716/https://www.thestar.com/sports/2007/09/04/burlington_racer_to_be_villeneuves_nascar_engineer.html}}</ref> Canadian driver [[Andrew Ranger]] used number 27 in the 2005 and 2006 [[Champ Car World Series|Champ Car]] seasons, and continued using the number at [[NASCAR Canadian Tire Series]] since 2007.<ref>{{cite web|title=A few memories of Andrew Ranger in Champ Car|url=https://www.auto123.com/en/racing-news/a-few-memories-of-andrew-ranger-in-champ-car?artid=79856|publisher=Auto123.com|date=April 4, 2007|access-date=May 9, 2019|url-status=live|archive-date=November 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201105075746/https://www.auto123.com/en/racing-news/a-few-memories-of-andrew-ranger-in-champ-car?artid=79856}}</ref> Canadian driver and 2011 IndyCar Rookie of the Year [[James Hinchcliffe]] adopted the number 27 for the [[2012 IndyCar Series season|2012 season]] when he joined [[Andretti Autosport]] (former Andretti Green Racing).<ref>{{cite news|last=Pappone|first=Jeff|date=January 13, 2012|title=Car No. 27 is special for Hinchcliffe|work=The Globe and Mail|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-drive/reviews/new-cars/car-no-27-is-special-for-hinchcliffe/article4178946/|url-status=live|access-date=May 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803161346/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-drive/reviews/new-cars/car-no-27-is-special-for-hinchcliffe/article4178946/|archive-date=August 3, 2020}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
A film based on the biography by Gerald Donaldson was announced in 2005, to be produced by Capri Films Inc, and with [[Christian Duguay (director)|Christian Duguay]] named as the director;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crash.net/f1/news/51305/1/production-team-named-for-villeneuve-movie |title=Production team named for Villeneuve movie. (archived version)|date=February 26, 2005|publisher=crash.net, inc|access-date=August 19, 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170819134220/http://www.crash.net/f1/news/51305/1/production-team-named-for-villeneuve-movie |archive-date = August 19, 2017}}</ref> the film has yet to materialise. A new film, to be directed by [[Daniel Roby]], was announced as entering production in 2023.<ref>Charles-Henri Ramond, [https://www.filmsquebec.com/remi-goulet-rosalie-bonenfant-biopic-villeneuve/ "Rémi Goulet et Rosalie Bonenfant dans le biopic Villeneuve"]. ''Films du Québec'', May 11, 2023.</ref>

The popular [[French comics]] series ''[[Michel Vaillant]]'' by [[Jean Graton]] is set in the world of motor racing and, although largely fictional, often includes real-life figures including drivers, officials and journalists. Villeneuve appears in a number of stories, and in ''Steve Warson contre Michel Vaillant'' (''fr:'' "Steve Warson versus Michel Vaillant") becomes the 1980 World Champion (though in the 1981 season, covered in ''Rififi en F1'' ("Trouble in F1"), Graton acknowledges [[Alan Jones (racing driver)|Alan Jones]] as the real Champion)<ref>[http://pal-degome.bleublog.lematin.ch/archive/2008/06/03/dossiers-michel-vaillant-gilles-villeneuve.html Dossiers Michel Vaillant 'Gilles Villeneuve'] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090801115029/http://pal-degome.bleublog.lematin.ch/archive/2008/06/03/dossiers-michel-vaillant-gilles-villeneuve.html |date=August 1, 2009 }} - review of a book on Villeneuve, published under the ''Michel Vaillant'' banner</ref> and Quebec progressive rock and pop band [[The Box (band)|The Box]] based their 1984 song "Live on TV" inspired by Villeneuve's televised death.  In 2017, Italian rock band, The Rock Alchemist<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Rock Alchemist|url=https://www.therockalchemist.it/}}</ref> wrote the song, "27" for their ''Elements''<ref>{{Cite web|title=Elements|url=https://www.therockalchemist.it/discography/elements/}}</ref> album as a tribute to Gilles Villeneuve's #27 Ferrari F1 car.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Rock Alchemist - Elements - Lion Music Record Label Profile|url=http://www.lionmusic.com/cd/Rock_Alchemists.html}}</ref>

==Racing record==

===Career summary===
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%; text-align:center"
!Season
!Series
!Team
!Races
!Wins
!Poles
!F/Laps
!Podiums
!Points
!Position
|-
!1975
|align=left|[[1975 Formula Atlantic season|CASC Formula Atlantic]]
|align=left|Skiroule Snowmobile
|8
|1
|?
|?
|2
|69
|5th
|-
!rowspan=3|1976
|align=left|[[1976 Formula Atlantic season CASC|CASC Formula Atlantic]]
|rowspan="2" style="text-align:left"|Ecurie Canada
|6
|5
|?
|?
|5
|120
|style="background:#FFFFBF"|'''1st'''
|-
|align=left|[[1976 Formula Atlantic season IMSA|IMSA Formula Atlantic]]
|4
|4
|?
|?
|4
|80
|style="background:#FFFFBF"|'''1st'''
|-
|align=left|[[1976 European Formula Two Championship|European Formula Two]]
|align=left|[[Project Four Racing]]
|1
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|NC
|-
!rowspan=4|1977
|align=left|[[1977 Formula Atlantic season|CASC Formula Atlantic]]
|align=left|Ecurie Canada
|7
|4
|?
|?
|5
|114
|style="background:#FFFFBF"|'''1st'''
|-
|rowspan="2" style="text-align:left"|[[1977 Formula One season|Formula One]]
|align=left nowrap|[[Marlboro (cigarette)|Marlboro]] [[McLaren|Team McLaren]]
|1
|0
|0
|0
|0
|rowspan=2|0
|rowspan=2|NC
|-
|align=left|[[Scuderia Ferrari]]
|2
|0
|0
|0
|0
|-
| nowrap|[[1977 World Championship for Makes|World Championship for Makes]]
|align=left|[[BMW Motorsport|BMW Alpina]]
|1
|0
|0
|0
|1
|0
|NC
|-
!1978
|align=left|[[1978 Formula One season|Formula One]]
|align=left|[[Scuderia Ferrari]]
|16
|1
|0
|1
|2
|17
|9th
|-
!1979
|align=left|[[1979 Formula One season|Formula One]]
|align=left|[[Scuderia Ferrari]]
|15
|3
|1
|6
|7
|53
|style="background:#DFDFDF"|'''2nd'''
|-
!1980
|align=left|[[1980 Formula One season|Formula One]]
|align=left|[[Scuderia Ferrari]]
|14
|0
|0
|0
|0
|6
|12th
|-
!1981
|align=left|[[1981 Formula One World Championship|Formula One]]
|align=left| [[Scuderia Ferrari]]
|15
|2
|1
|1
|3
|25
|7th
|-
!1982
|align=left|[[1982 Formula One World Championship|Formula One]]
|align=left|[[Scuderia Ferrari]]
|5
|0
|0
|0
|1
|6
|15th
|-
! colspan="10" |{{center|{{small|Sources:<ref>{{cite web|title=1975 CASC Formula Atlantic|url=http://www.autocourse.ca/archives/usa/fatlantic/1975-fatlantic.htm|work=Autocourse|access-date=5 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Gilles Villeneuve|url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/drivers/gilles-villeneuve/|work=Motor Sport|access-date=5 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=1976 CASC Player's Challenge Series|url=http://www.champcarstats.com/atlantic/year/1976.htm|publisher=Champ Car Stats|access-date=5 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=1977 CASC Formula Atlantic|url=http://www.autocourse.ca/archives/usa/fatlantic/1977-fatlantic.htm|work=Autocourse|access-date=5 August 2021}}</ref>}}}}
|}

===Complete Formula One results===
([[:Template:F1 driver results legend 2|key]]) (Races in '''bold''' indicate pole position; races in ''italics'' indicate fastest lap)
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%;"
|-
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Entrant
! scope="col" | Chassis
! scope="col" | Engine
! scope="col" | 1
! scope="col" | 2
! scope="col" | 3
! scope="col" | 4
! scope="col" | 5
! scope="col" | 6
! scope="col" | 7
! scope="col" | 8
! scope="col" | 9
! scope="col" | 10
! scope="col" | 11
! scope="col" | 12
! scope="col" | 13
! scope="col" | 14
! scope="col" | 15
! scope="col" | 16
! scope="col" | 17
! scope="col" | {{Abbr|WDC|Final World Drivers' Championship position}}
! scope="col" | [[List of Formula One World Championship points scoring systems|Pts.]]{{efn|name="droppedpoints"}}
|-
|rowspan="2"| {{F1|1977}}
!nowrap| [[Marlboro (cigarette)|Marlboro]] [[McLaren (racing)|Team McLaren]]
!nowrap| [[McLaren]] [[McLaren M23|M23]]
!nowrap| [[Cosworth DFV|Ford Cosworth DFV]] 3.0 [[V8 engine|V8]]
| [[1977 Argentine Grand Prix|ARG]]
| [[1977 Brazilian Grand Prix|BRA]]
| [[1977 South African Grand Prix|RSA]]
| [[1977 United States Grand Prix West|USW]]
| [[1977 Spanish Grand Prix|ESP]]
| [[1977 Monaco Grand Prix|MON]]
| [[1977 Belgian Grand Prix|BEL]]
| [[1977 Swedish Grand Prix|SWE]]
| [[1977 French Grand Prix|FRA]]
|style="background:#cfcfff;"| [[1977 British Grand Prix|GBR]]<br />{{small|11}}
| [[1977 German Grand Prix|GER]]
| [[1977 Austrian Grand Prix|AUT]]
| [[1977 Dutch Grand Prix|NED]]
| [[1977 Italian Grand Prix|ITA]]
| [[1977 United States Grand Prix|USA]]
|colspan=2|
!rowspan="2"| NC
!rowspan="2"| 0
|-
!nowrap| [[Scuderia Ferrari]]
!nowrap| [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] [[Ferrari 312T|312T2]]
!nowrap| [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] 015 3.0 [[Flat-12|F12]]
|colspan=15|
|style="background:#cfcfff;"| [[1977 Canadian Grand Prix|CAN]]<br />{{small|12}}
|style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1977 Japanese Grand Prix|JPN]]<br />{{small|Ret}}
|-
|rowspan="2"| {{F1|1978}}
!rowspan="2" nowrap| [[Scuderia Ferrari]]
!nowrap| [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] [[Ferrari 312T|312T2]]
!nowrap| [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] 015 3.0 [[Flat-12|F12]]
|style="background:#cfcfff;"| ''[[1978 Argentine Grand Prix|ARG]]''<br />{{small|8}}
|style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1978 Brazilian Grand Prix|BRA]]<br />{{small|Ret}}
|colspan=15|
!rowspan="2"| 9th
!rowspan="2"| 17
|-
!nowrap| [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] [[Ferrari 312T|312T3]]
!nowrap| [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] 015 3.0 [[Flat-12|F12]]
|colspan=2|
|style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1978 South African Grand Prix|RSA]]<br />{{small|Ret}}
|style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1978 United States Grand Prix West|USW]]<br />{{small|Ret}}
|style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1978 Monaco Grand Prix|MON]]<br />{{small|Ret}}
|style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[1978 Belgian Grand Prix|BEL]]<br />{{small|4}}
|style="background:#cfcfff;"| [[1978 Spanish Grand Prix|ESP]]<br />{{small|10}}
|style="background:#cfcfff;"| [[1978 Swedish Grand Prix|SWE]]<br />{{small|9}}
|style="background:#cfcfff;"| [[1978 French Grand Prix|FRA]]<br />{{small|12}}
|style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1978 British Grand Prix|GBR]]<br />{{small|Ret}}
|style="background:#cfcfff;"| [[1978 German Grand Prix|GER]]<br />{{small|8}}
|style="background:#ffdf9f;"| [[1978 Austrian Grand Prix|AUT]]<br />{{small|3}}
|style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[1978 Dutch Grand Prix|NED]]<br />{{small|6}}
|style="background:#cfcfff;"| [[1978 Italian Grand Prix|ITA]]<br />{{small|7}}
|style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1978 United States Grand Prix|USA]]<br />{{small|Ret}}
|style="background:#ffffbf;"| [[1978 Canadian Grand Prix|CAN]]<br />{{small|1}}
|
|-
|rowspan="2"| {{F1|1979}}
!rowspan="2"| [[Scuderia Ferrari]]
! [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] [[Ferrari 312T|312T3]]
! [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] 015 3.0 [[Flat-12|F12]]
|style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1979 Argentine Grand Prix|ARG]]<br />{{small|Ret}}
|style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[1979 Brazilian Grand Prix|BRA]]<br />{{small|5}}
|colspan=15|
| rowspan="2" style="background:#dfdfdf;"| '''2nd'''
| rowspan="2" style="background:#dfdfdf;"| '''47 (53)'''
|-
!nowrap| [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] [[Ferrari 312T|312T4]]
!nowrap| [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] 015 3.0 [[Flat-12|F12]]
|colspan=2|
|style="background:#ffffbf;"| ''[[1979 South African Grand Prix|RSA]]''<br />{{small|1}}
|style="background:#ffffbf;"| '''''[[1979 United States Grand Prix West|USW]]'''''<br />{{small|1}}
|style="background:#cfcfff;"| ''[[1979 Spanish Grand Prix|ESP]]''<br />{{small|7}}
|style="background:#cfcfff;"| ''[[1979 Belgian Grand Prix|BEL]]''<br />{{small|7}}
|style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1979 Monaco Grand Prix|MON]]<br />{{small|Ret}}
|style="background:#dfdfdf;"| [[1979 French Grand Prix|FRA]]<br />{{small|2}}
|style="background:#cfcfff;"| [[1979 British Grand Prix|GBR]]<br />{{small|14†}}
|style="background:#cfcfff;"| ''[[1979 German Grand Prix|GER]]''<br />{{small|8}}
|style="background:#dfdfdf;"| [[1979 Austrian Grand Prix|AUT]]<br />{{small|2}}
|style="background:#efcfff;"| ''[[1979 Dutch Grand Prix|NED]]''<br />{{small|Ret}}
|style="background:#dfdfdf;"| [[1979 Italian Grand Prix|ITA]]<br />{{small|2}}
|style="background:#dfdfdf;"| [[1979 Canadian Grand Prix|CAN]]<br />{{small|2}}
|style="background:#ffffbf;"| [[1979 United States Grand Prix|USA]]<br />{{small|1}}
|colspan=2|
|-
| {{F1|1980}}
!nowrap| [[Scuderia Ferrari]]
!nowrap| [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] [[Ferrari 312T|312T5]]
!nowrap| [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] 015 3.0 [[Flat-12|F12]]
|style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1980 Argentine Grand Prix|ARG]]<br />{{small|Ret}}
|style="background:#cfcfff;"| [[1980 Brazilian Grand Prix|BRA]]<br />{{small|16}}
|style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1980 South African Grand Prix|RSA]]<br />{{small|Ret}}
|style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1980 United States Grand Prix West|USW]]<br />{{small|Ret}}
|style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[1980 Belgian Grand Prix|BEL]]<br />{{small|6}}
|style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[1980 Monaco Grand Prix|MON]]<br />{{small|5}}
|style="background:#cfcfff;"| [[1980 French Grand Prix|FRA]]<br />{{small|8}}
|style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1980 British Grand Prix|GBR]]<br />{{small|Ret}}
|style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[1980 German Grand Prix|GER]]<br />{{small|6}}
|style="background:#cfcfff;"| [[1980 Austrian Grand Prix|AUT]]<br />{{small|8}}
|style="background:#cfcfff;"| [[1980 Dutch Grand Prix|NED]]<br />{{small|7}}
|style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1980 Italian Grand Prix|ITA]]<br />{{small|Ret}}
|style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[1980 Canadian Grand Prix|CAN]]<br />{{small|5}}
|style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1980 United States Grand Prix|USA]]<br />{{small|Ret}}
|colspan=3|
! 12th
! 6
|-
| {{F1|1981}}
!nowrap| [[Scuderia Ferrari]]
!nowrap| [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] [[Ferrari 126CK|126CK]]
!nowrap| [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] 021 1.5 [[V6]] [[Turbocharger|t]]
|style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1981 United States Grand Prix West|USW]]<br />{{small|Ret}}
|style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1981 Brazilian Grand Prix|BRA]]<br />{{small|Ret}}
|style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1981 Argentine Grand Prix|ARG]]<br />{{small|Ret}}
|style="background:#cfcfff;"| '''''[[1981 San Marino Grand Prix|SMR]]'''''<br />{{small|7}}
|style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[1981 Belgian Grand Prix|BEL]]<br />{{small|4}}
|style="background:#ffffbf;"| [[1981 Monaco Grand Prix|MON]]<br />{{small|1}}
|style="background:#ffffbf;"| [[1981 Spanish Grand Prix|ESP]]<br />{{small|1}}
|style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1981 French Grand Prix|FRA]]<br />{{small|Ret}}
|style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1981 British Grand Prix|GBR]]<br />{{small|Ret}}
|style="background:#cfcfff;"| [[1981 German Grand Prix|GER]]<br />{{small|10}}
|style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1981 Austrian Grand Prix|AUT]]<br />{{small|Ret}}
|style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1981 Dutch Grand Prix|NED]]<br />{{small|Ret}}
|style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1981 Italian Grand Prix|ITA]]<br />{{small|Ret}}
|style="background:#ffdf9f;"| [[1981 Canadian Grand Prix|CAN]]<br />{{small|3}}
|style="background:#000; color:white;"| [[1981 Caesars Palace Grand Prix|<span style="color:white;">CPL</span>]]<br />{{small|DSQ}}
|colspan=2|
! 7th
! 25
|-
| {{F1|1982}}
!nowrap| [[Scuderia Ferrari]]
!nowrap| [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] [[Ferrari 126 C|126C2]]
!nowrap| [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] 021 1.5 [[V6]] [[Turbocharger|t]]
|style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1982 South African Grand Prix|RSA]]<br />{{small|Ret}}
|style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1982 Brazilian Grand Prix|BRA]]<br />{{small|Ret}}
|style="background:#000; color:white;"| [[1982 United States Grand Prix West|<span style="color:white;">USW</span>]]<br />{{small|DSQ}}
|style="background:#dfdfdf;"| [[1982 San Marino Grand Prix|SMR]]<br />{{small|2}}
|style="background:#fff;"| [[1982 Belgian Grand Prix|BEL]]<br />{{small|DNS}}
| [[1982 Monaco Grand Prix|MON]]
| [[1982 Detroit Grand Prix|DET]]
| [[1982 Canadian Grand Prix|CAN]]
| [[1982 Dutch Grand Prix|NED]]
| [[1982 British Grand Prix|GBR]]
| [[1982 French Grand Prix|FRA]]
| [[1982 German Grand Prix|GER]]
| [[1982 Austrian Grand Prix|AUT]]
| [[1982 Swiss Grand Prix|SUI]]
| [[1982 Italian Grand Prix|ITA]]
| [[1982 Caesars Palace Grand Prix|CPL]]
|
! 15th
! 6
|-
!colspan="27"|{{center|{{small|Source:<ref>{{cite web|title=All championship race entries, by Gilles Villeneuve|url=https://www.chicanef1.com/query.pl?driver=Gilles+Villeneuve&nc=0&exact=on&sh_year=on&sh_date=on&sh_gp=on&sh_circuit=on&sh_carno=on&sh_driver=on&sh_entrant=on&sh_team=on&sh_car=on&sh_eng=on&sh_qualpos=on&sh_gridpos=on&sh_racepos=on&action=Display|publisher=Chicane F1|access-date=November 5, 2020|page=[https://www.chicanef1.com/query.pl?driver=Gilles+Villeneuve&nc=0&exact=on&sh_year=on&sh_date=on&sh_gp=on&sh_circuit=on&sh_carno=on&sh_driver=on&sh_entrant=on&sh_team=on&sh_car=on&sh_eng=on&sh_qualpos=on&sh_gridpos=on&sh_racepos=on&action=Display 1], [https://www.chicanef1.com/query.pl?year=&country=&carno=&entrant=&driver=Gilles+Villeneuve&car=&engine=&tyres=&lubricant=&qualpos=&gridpos=&classi=&flappos=&exact=on&laps=&carmodel=&team=&sponsor=&industry=&designer=&sh_year=on&sh_date=on&sh_gp=on&sh_circuit=on&sh_carno=on&sh_entrant=on&sh_driver=on&sh_car=on&sh_eng=on&sh_tyres=&sh_lub=&sh_qualpos=on&sh_qualtime=&sh_qualdiff=&sh_gridpos=on&sh_racepos=on&sh_racelaps=&sh_racetime=&sh_racetimediff=&sh_flappos=&sh_flap=&sh_flaptime=&sh_flaptimediff=&sh_laps=&sh_dpts=&sh_cpts=&sh_sponsor=&sh_industry=&sh_designer=&page=1&rpp=50&from=&to=&circuit=&month=&action=Next 2]}}</ref><ref>Donaldson (2003) pp.310–315</ref>}}}}
|}
† - Villeneuve retired from the race but was classified as he had completed more than 90% of the race distance.

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==See also==
* [[Formula One drivers from Canada]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Books===
*{{cite book | title = Gilles Villeneuve: The Life of the Legendary Racing Driver | first = Gerald | last = Donaldson | publisher = Virgin | location = London | year = 2003 | isbn = 0-7535-0747-1 <!-- publisher = McClelland and Stewart | year=1989 | location = Toronto | isbn = 0-7710-2846-6 -->}}
*{{cite book | last = Bamsey | first = Ian | title = Automobile Sport 82-83 | publisher = Haynes Manuals | location = City | year = 1983 | isbn = 0-946321-01-9 }}
*{{cite book | last = Lang | first = Mike | title = Grand Prix! vol.4 | publisher = Foulis | location = Sparkford | year = 1992 | isbn = 0-85429-733-2 }}
*{{cite book | last = Roebuck | first = Nigel | title = Grand Prix Greats | publisher = P. Stephens | location = Cambridge | year = 1986 | isbn = 0-85059-792-7 }}
*{{cite book | last = Roebuck | first = Nigel | title = Chasing the Title | publisher = Haynes Publications | location = City | year = 1999 | isbn = 1-85960-604-0 }}
*{{cite book | last = Watkins | first = Sid | title = Life at the Limit: Triumph and Tragedy in Formula One| publisher = Pan Books | location = City | year = 1997 | isbn = 0-330-35139-7 }}
*Villeneuve 1982 - Allan de la Plante
*Villeneuve a Racing Legend 1995 - Allan de la Plante

===Magazines===
*{{cite news |first= Paul |last= Fearnley |title= Profile: Ferrari 312T3 |work= [[Motor Sport (magazine)|Motor Sport]] |publisher= Haymarket |pages= 52–61 |date=August 2006}}
*{{cite news |first= Paul |last= Fearnley |title= It's war. Absolutely war. |work= Motor Sport |publisher= Haymarket |pages= 52–61 |date=May 2007}}
*{{cite news |first= Denis |last= Jenkinson |author-link=Denis Jenkinson |title= Grote Prijs van Belgie |work= Motor Sport |publisher= Motor Sport Magazine Ltd. |pages= 708–712 |date=June 1982}}
*{{cite news |first= Rob |last= Walker |title= US GP Report |work= [[Road & Track]] |pages= 104–107 |date=January 1980}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book | title=Villeneuve | first=Allan | last=de la Plante |author2=Lecours, Pierre  | publisher=Macmillan | year=1982 | isbn =0-7715-9851-3}}
*{{cite book | title=Villeneuve (Kimberley's Racing Driver Profile No. 3)| first=Alan | last=Henry | year=1989 | publisher=Kimberley's | location=London | isbn = 0-946132-22-4 }}
*{{cite book | title = Gilles Villeneuve | first = Nigel | last = Roebuck | publisher = Hazleton | location=Richmond | year=1990 | isbn = 0-905138-70-8 }}

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
*{{commons-inline}}
*[http://ventisetterosso.it/eng/home.html Ventisetterosso - Salut Gilles]
*[http://www.cmhf.ca/gilles-villeneuve Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame]
*[http://www.museegillesvilleneuve.com Gilles Villeneuve Museum]
*[http://www.cbc.ca/archives/topic/gilles-villeneuve-racing-at-the-speed-of-light CBC Digital Archives — Gilles Villeneuve: Racing at the speed of light]
*[http://en.espn.co.uk/f1/motorsport/story/6630.html He was on a separate level]
{{s-start}}
{{s-sports}}
|-
{{s-new}}
{{s-ttl| title  = [[Champ Car Atlantic|American Formula Atlantic Champion]]
       | years  = 1976 }}
{{s-non| reason  = N/A<br />{{small|American and Canadian merged<br />into [[Formula Atlantic|North American]] title}} }}
{{s-bef| before = [[Bill Brack]] }}
{{s-ttl| title  = [[Champ Car Atlantic|Canadian Formula Atlantic Champion]]
       | years  = 1976–1977 }}
{{s-aft| after  = [[Howdy Holmes]] |as=North American champion }}

{{s-bef|before=[[James Hunt]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Race of Champions (Brands Hatch)|Brands Hatch Race of Champions winner]]|years=1979}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Keke Rosberg]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Patrick Depailler]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of Formula One fatal accidents|Formula One fatal accidents]]|years= May 8, 1982}}
{{s-aft|after= [[Riccardo Paletti]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{Good article}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Scuderia Ferrari}}
{{Lionel Conacher Award}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Villeneuve, Gilles}}
[[Category:1950 births]]
[[Category:1982 deaths]]
[[Category:Atlantic Championship drivers]]
[[Category:Canadian expatriate sportspeople in Monaco]]
[[Category:Canadian Formula One drivers]]
[[Category:Canadian people of French descent]]
[[Category:Racing drivers from Quebec]]
[[Category:Ferrari Formula One drivers]]
[[Category:Filmed deaths in motorsport]]
[[Category:Formula One race winners]]
[[Category:McLaren Formula One drivers]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu]]
[[Category:Racing drivers who died while racing]]
[[Category:Snowmobile racers]]
[[Category:Sport deaths in Belgium]]
[[Category:World Sportscar Championship drivers]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Centre-du-Québec]]
[[Category:Canadian Formula Atlantic Championship drivers]]
[[Category:Canadian racing drivers]]
[[Category:Age controversies in sports]]