The Ligier JS11 was the surprise of the early 1979 season. Driven by Jacques Laffite, it won the first two races and both team's drivers, Laffite and Patrick Depailler, scored consistently. Following to Depailler's hang-gliding accident, Jacky Ickx became Laffite's team mate but he was not up to the expectations. During the season the Ligier team failed to solve some chassis troubles in time for Laffite to challenge the Ferrari 312 T4's of Jody Scheckter and Gilles Villeneuve.