Charles Albert Pozzi (born Carlo Alberto Pozzi; 27 August 1909 – 28 February 2001) was a French racing driver, entrepreneur and motorsport figure whose influence extended far beyond his brief Formula One career. Although he made just a single World Championship appearance during the inaugural 1950 Formula One season, Pozzi later became one of the most important figures in French automotive history as the country’s official Ferrari and Maserati importer.
Driver Bio
| Nationality | French |
| Birthplace | Paris, France |
| Born | 27 August 1909 |
| Died | 28 February 2001 |
| First Grand Prix | 1950 French Grand Prix |
| Last Grand Prix | 1950 French Grand Prix |
| Years Active | 1950 |
| Current/Last Team | Privateer: Charles Pozzi Talbot-Lago |
Early Life
Born Carlo Alberto Pozzi in Paris to Italian parents, he later adopted the French version of his first name, becoming known as Charles Pozzi. Before entering motorsport, he worked as an automobile broker, only beginning his competitive racing career at the relatively late age of 37.
Despite his late start, Pozzi quickly established himself as a capable sports-car competitor in the immediate post-war years.
Racing Career
Pozzi enjoyed a busy racing schedule in 1946, campaigning a Delahaye 135CS in several French events. Among his strongest performances were fourth place in the Grand Prix de Bourgogne at Dijon and fifth in the Le Mans Grand Prix, which that year was held on the Nantes circuit rather than at Le Mans itself.
His greatest success behind the wheel came in 1949 when he won the Comminges Sports Car Grand Prix at Saint-Gaudens. Driving a Delahaye 145 fitted with a 4.5-litre six-cylinder engine from the Delahaye 175, Pozzi secured one of the most prestigious victories of his racing career.
Formula One Career
Pozzi entered the inaugural Formula One World Championship in 1950 with Écurie Rosier, driving a Talbot-Lago T26C.
He was entered for the Monaco Grand Prix but did not start the race. Later in the season, he made his sole World Championship appearance at the French Grand Prix, where he shared his Talbot-Lago with Louis Rosier. Under the regulations of the time, shared drives were permitted, and the pair finished sixth.
Although he never scored a World Championship point, Pozzi’s participation secured him a place among the drivers who competed during Formula One’s first-ever championship season.
Charles Pozzi S.A.
Following his retirement from competitive racing, Pozzi turned his attention to the automotive business, where he would achieve even greater success.
He founded Charles Pozzi S.A., which became the official French importer and distributor for Ferrari and Maserati. Under his leadership, the company played a major role in establishing both marques within the French market and became synonymous with high-performance Italian sports cars.
In recognition of his long association with Ferrari, the marque named one of its most distinctive colours Blu Pozzi, a deep navy blue that remains a popular choice among Ferrari enthusiasts today.
Charles Pozzi S.A. remained one of Ferrari’s most important European distributors until it was acquired by Ferrari in 2003, two years after Pozzi’s death.
Death
Charles Pozzi died on 28 February 2001 in Levallois-Perret, a suburb of Paris, at the age of 91.
Grand Prix Stats
| Race Entries | 1 |
| Race Starts | 1 |
| Did Not Start | 0 |
| Best Race Start | 16th |
| Best Race Finish | 6th |
| Retirements | 0 |
| First-Lap Retirements | 0 |
| Not Classified | 0 |
| Disqualified | 0 |
| Did Not Qualify | 0 |
Qualifying
| Qualifying Sessions | 1 |
| Reached Q3 | 0 |
| Q2 Eliminations | 0 |
| Q1 Eliminations | 0 |
| Did Not Qualify | 0 |
Stats by Season
| Year | Constructor | Entries | Starts | Wins | Podiums | Poles | Fastest Laps | Front Rows | DNF | Best Start | Best Result | Pts Finishes | Points | Championship |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | Privateer: Charles Pozzi Talbot-Lago | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 0 | NC |
Stats by Constructor
| Constructor | Years | Entries | Starts | Wins | Podiums | Poles | Fastest Laps | Front Rows | DNF | Best Start | Best Result | Pts Finishes | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Privateer: Charles Pozzi Talbot-Lago | 1950 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
