Maverick Frenchman leading the pack around Formula One (6)

I believe the answer is:

misfit

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'maverick' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

I don't understand the rest of the clue.

(Other definitions for misfit that I've seen before include "Person who cannot integrate into society" , "Person not well suited to life or environment" , "Fish out of water" , "Maverick, nonconformist" , "Someone not suited" .)

I've seen this clue in the Irish Times.

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