German Grand Prix 1982 - Race Schedule and Countdown

The German Grand Prix witnessed the season's third major tragedy when championship leader Didier Pironi suffered career-ending injuries during Saturday morning practice. In heavy rain and poor visibility, Pironi's Ferrari struck the back of Alain Prost's Renault at high speed on the approach to the Ostkurve chicane. The impact launched Pironi's car into a horrifying aerial crash that shattered both of his legs so severely that he would never race in Formula 1 again. The Frenchman's championship dream died instantly, along with any hope of honoring Gilles Villeneuve's memory through title success.

Patrick Tambay delivered an emotional victory for Ferrari, dedicating the win to his injured teammate and fallen friend Villeneuve. The Frenchman's controlled drive through treacherous conditions demonstrated both his talent and the burden he carried as Ferrari's standard-bearer amid tragedy. René Arnoux finished second ahead of Keke Rosberg, who suddenly found himself back in championship contention. The championship was now wide open with five races remaining, transforming what had seemed Pironi's inevitable coronation into the most unpredictable title battle in Formula 1 history. Pironi would later lose his life in a powerboat racing accident in 1987, never recovering from the physical and emotional trauma of 1982.