Death of François Michelin
The Auvergne daily newspaper La Montagne announced the death of François Michelin, the historic leader of the firm of the same name for more than forty years.
François Michelin died at the age of 88. During his career, he led the company bearing his name until 2002, marking 43 years of an uncontested reign.
After his retirement, he will be succeeded by his grandson Edouard Michelin, who died accidentally in 2006. The historical leader of the manufacturer will have done much for the global reputation of the Clermont-based company, notably with the establishment of factories on all continents.
Jean-Dominique Senard, current president of the Michelin Group, expressed himself in the Auvergne daily newspaper: « I would like, on behalf of the Group’s employees, to pay special tribute to this exceptional man, universally respected for his values, convictions, and vision. »
In Formula 1, Michelin made its first appearance in 1977. The manufacturer contributed to the achievement of 4 driver titles (1979, 1980, 1983, and 1984) and 2 constructor titles (1979 and 1984) with teams as diverse as Ferrari, Brabham, and McLaren. In 2001, the company decided to return to the sport and went on to win 2 titles in 2005 and 2006 with Fernando Alonso driving for Renault. In 2006, Michelin once again left F1 due to the single manufacturer rule imposed by the FIA.
Furthermore, Michelin equips the Formula E single-seaters for their first season in 2015.
