Nyorai kupfuurira kweiyi ndima - Depailler akaisa mureza-kune-mureza kukunda paJarama mu1979 Spanish Grand Prix. Kukunda kwakamugonesa kubatanidza Gilles Villeneuve mumakwikwi eFormula One world championship pakupera kwaApril, aine mapoinzi makumi maviri ega ega. Depailler akaisa nzvimbo yechitatu mukukodzera kweMonaco Grand Prix 1979
pane gridhi yakatwasuka. Depailler akatsiviwa muna June 1979 naLigier, mushure mekutyora makumbo ose mune imwe njodzi yekukwira ndege musi wa 3 June pedyo neguta rake rekumusha reClermont-Ferrand. Chitsitsinho chake chakakuvadzwawo zvakakomba. Chikwata chemakwikwi chakanga chichiwana rubatsiro rwemari kubva kuhurumende yeFrance, iyo yakaratidza kuti kutsiva kwake kwaivewo kwechiFrench; kutsiva kwake kwaive mutambi wechiFrench anotaura chiBelgian Jacky Ickx.