Francois Cevert
FranceBiography of Francois Cevert
Francois Cevert was a French racing driver who competed in the Formula 1 World Championship. He was born in Paris in early 1944, the son of Charles Goldenberg, a successful Parisian jeweler and immigrant from Russia, and Uget Sever.
During World War II, when France was occupied by the Nazis, Cevert's father, being a registered Jew, joined the French Resistance to avoid forced deportation to Poland. To avoid drawing attention to his significant wealth, the four children of Charles and Uget were registered under her surname, Sever, instead of his.
Cevert began his career on two wheels, racing with friends on his mother's Vespa scooter before moving on to his own Norton motorcycle at the age of 19. After serving in the army, Cevert shifted his focus to cars. In 1966, he completed a training course at the Le Mans driving school and was enrolled in the racing school in Magny-Cours.
During this time, he also registered to compete in the Shell Scholarship competition, where the winner received an Alpine Formula 3 car as a prize. Cevert qualified for the final race and emerged victorious.
His first season in Formula 3 with the prize-winning Alpine did not go well. He lacked the funds and experience to properly set up and maintain his car. After securing a sponsor for the 1968 season, Cevert switched to a more competitive Tecno car. On the new machine, Cevert finally began to win races, and by the end of the season, he became the French Formula 3 champion, surpassing Jean-Pierre Jabouille.
After his victory in French Formula 3, Cevert joined the Tecno team in Formula 2 in 1969 and finished the championship in third place. He also made his Formula 1 debut in the German Grand Prix that year in the F2 class.
In 1970, Cevert caught the attention of Ken Tyrrell, the team manager of Tyrrell Racing, after Jackie Stewart recommended him. Cevert became Stewart's teammate and helped him defend his championship title. Their partnership continued for four seasons.
In 1971, Cevert earned his first points in Formula 1 by finishing sixth in the Italian Grand Prix. He also secured his first and only victory in the United States Grand Prix that season.
In 1972, Cevert's performance was disappointing, with only three points finishes throughout the season. However, he achieved a notable second-place finish in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, driving a Matra-Simca 670 alongside Howden Ganley.
In 1973, Cevert showed his potential as a top driver by finishing second in six races, consistently challenging Stewart. However, tragedy struck during the qualifying session for the United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen. Cevert was killed instantly in a crash while competing for pole position against Ronnie Peterson.
Cevert's death deeply affected the Formula 1 community, and his former teammate Jackie Stewart retired from racing immediately after the incident. Cevert was buried in Vaudelnay, Maine-et-Loire, and a memorial plaque was placed on his grave.
