He is the brother of Bugatti race car driver, Louis Trintignant, who was killed in 1933 while practicing on the Péronne racetrack in Picardie and the uncle of renowned French film actor, Jean-Louis Trintignant.
Maurice Trintignant begann racing cars in 1938 and by 1950 had been successful enough in Grand Prix motor racing to join the newly formed Formula One racing circuit where he competed until his retirement after the 1964 season. 1954 and 1955 were his best years on the F1 circuit, finishing 4th in the drivers championship both years. In 1954 he won the 24 hours of Le Mans and then the Grand Prix of Monaco in 1955 and again in 1958.
Following his retirement from racing, Maurice Trintignant returned to a quiet life as a wine-grower near the town of Vergèze, in the Languedoc-Roussillon wine growing region, where he would eventually be elected mayor.