F1 ICONS: Melanie Villeneuve on her father Gilles, the legendary Ferrari racer


Gilles Villeneuve is regarded as one of the fastest drivers in F1 history who missed out on a world title, with the Canadian’s life and career cruelly cut short amid controversy involving Ferrari team mate Didier Pironi. Following the release of the documentary Villeneuve Pironi – Racing’s Untold Tragedy, Gilles’ daughter, Melanie, shares some early memories of her dad, his lasting legacy and how the family plan to honour him moving forward…
I was raised on the tracks with my dad, my mum Joann and my brother Jacques.

Unlock exclusive F1 content and more with F1 Unlocked. Totally free.
Membership gets you closer with:
Curated insider content
Live like an F1 insider with exclusive access and VIP experiences
Member benefits, rewards and offers
Next Up
Related Articles
Verstappen declares P2 ‘the maximum possible’ in Canada
Brad Pitt hails drivers and teams as ‘big part’ of ‘F1 The Movie’
Monday Morning DebriefThe key factors behind Norris and Piastri’s Canada crash
Russell jubilant after hard-fought victory in Canada
Mansell to drive newly-restored Williams FW11 at Goodwood
Facts and StatsAntonelli becomes F1’s third-youngest podium finisher