Charles Pic is a French former racing driver who competed in Formula One from 2012 to 2013 with Marussia and Caterham. While his time in Formula One was brief and without points, Pic showed flashes of potential in junior series. Following his retirement, he moved into motorsport management, becoming owner of DAMS, a leading team in FIA Formula 2, in 2022.
| Nationality | French |
|---|---|
| Born | Charles Maurice Marcel Pic 15 February 1990 Montélimar, Drôme, France |
Born in Montélimar, in southeastern France, Pic began karting at the relatively late age of 13. With support from his godfather, Éric Bernard—a former Formula One driver—Pic moved through the French and European karting scene before entering single-seater racing in 2006. He quickly rose through the ranks:
- Achieved top-three finishes in various Formula Renault championships
- Stepped up to the Formula Renault 3.5 Series in 2009
- Moved to the GP2 Series in 2010, where he earned two wins and became a consistent top-ten finisher across two seasons
These results earned him a spot on the radar of several Formula One teams, culminating in a test with Marussia Virgin Racing in 2011.
Formula One Career
Marussia: 2012
Pic officially joined Marussia (renamed from Virgin Racing) as a full-time driver for the 2012 season, partnering veteran Timo Glock. He made his debut at the 2012 Australian Grand Prix, finishing 15th. While the Marussia MR01 was uncompetitive, Pic earned attention for his composure and consistency under challenging conditions.
Notable moments included:
- Finishing 20th at the Canadian Grand Prix amid high attrition
- Receiving a grid penalty at Silverstone for an unscheduled gearbox change
- Setting an unfortunate record for most times overtaken in a single F1 season (70)—a statistical reflection of the car’s lack of pace, not necessarily driver performance
A mid-season feud with teammate Glock was rumoured, particularly after a blocking incident in qualifying at Hungary, but Pic’s professional demeanour remained intact.
Despite being winless and point-less, Pic was widely seen as the standout among the backmarker drivers in 2012. He moved to Caterham for 2013.
Caterham: 2013
Pic joined Caterham F1 on a multi-year deal, racing alongside Giedo van der Garde. Though the team also struggled near the back of the grid, Caterham’s car was occasionally capable of mixing with the lower midfield, allowing Pic to show his skill in wheel-to-wheel combat.
Highlights included:
- 14th place finishes in Malaysia and Korea
- Beating the Marussias and even a Sauber in Bahrain
- Strong mid-season form with close battles against Williams drivers and other midfield runners
Pic impressed with his pace relative to van der Garde, particularly at the 2103 Brazilian Grand Prix, where he qualified well clear of his teammate and the Marussias before suffering a suspension failure late in the race.
Despite consistent performances, Caterham dropped Pic at the end of the season amid restructuring and funding shifts.
Lotus Reserve Role: 2014
In February 2014, Lotus F1 announced Pic as their official reserve driver, keeping him within the Formula One ecosystem. However, with no race opportunities and no call-up due to Lotus’s turbulent 2014 campaign, his time on the grid effectively ended.
Formula E and Retirement
Pic joined Formula E for its inaugural season in 2014–15. He impressed early with a fourth-place finish in Beijing for Andretti Autosport but was soon replaced. He later joined China Racing for four further races, scoring points in Monaco, but left the series after the Berlin ePrix, ending his top-level racing career.
Post-Racing Career
After retiring from professional driving, Pic moved into business and investment. In 2022, he acquired full ownership of the DAMS racing team, a historically successful outfit in Formula 2. Under his leadership, DAMS has continued to nurture young talents and maintain a strong presence in the junior formulae.
Charles Pic Formula One World Championship career
| F1 Career | 2012–2013 |
|---|---|
| Teams | Marussia F1, Caterham |
| Entries | 39 (39 starts) |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 0 |
| Career points | 0 |
| Pole positions | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| First entry | 2012 Australian Grand Prix |
| Last entry | 2013 Brazilian Grand Prix |
Charles Pic Teammates
| 8 drivers | Involvement | First Year | Last Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timo Glock | 20 | 2012 | |
| Max Chilton | 1 | 2012 | |
| Giedo van der Garde | 19 | 2013 | |
| Ma Qinghua | 1 | 2013 | |
| Heikki Kovalainen | 6 | 2013 | |
| Alexander Rossi | 2 | 2013 | |
| Pastor Maldonado | 1 | 2014 | |
| Romain Grosjean | 1 | 2014 |
Complete Formula One Results
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | WDC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Marussia F1 Team | Marussia MR01 | Cosworth CA2012 2.4 V8 | AUS 15 † | MAL 20 | CHN 20 | BHR Ret | ESP Ret | MON Ret | CAN 20 | EUR 15 | GBR 19 | GER 20 | HUN 20 | BEL 16 | ITA 16 | SIN 16 | JPN Ret | KOR 19 | IND 19 | ABU Ret | USA 20 | BRA 12 | 21st | 0 |
| 2013 | Caterham F1 Team | Caterham CT03 | Renault RS27-2013 2.4 V8 | AUS 16 | MAL 14 | CHN 16 | BHR 17 | ESP 17 | MON Ret | CAN 18 | GBR 15 | GER 17 | HUN 15 | BEL Ret | ITA 17 | SIN 19 | KOR 14 | JPN 18 | IND Ret | ABU 19 | USA 20 | BRA Ret | 20th | 0 | |
| 2014 | Lotus F1 Team | Lotus E22 | Renault Energy F1-2014 1.6 V6 t | AUS | MAL | BHR | CHN | ESP | MON | CAN | AUT | GBR | GER | HUN | BEL | ITA TD | SIN | JPN | RUS | USA | BRA | ABU | – | – |
TD – Test Driver
