Sir Jackie Stewart is one of the legends of Formula 1. The Scotsman became world champion three times in 1969, 1971 and 1973, and from 1997 to 1999 the Stewart team he created played in the championship, which then changed owners and now called Red Bull Racing. Sir Jackie continues to race regularly and comment on championship events.
Q: No one doubts that Max Verstappen will win the third consecutive championship title this year. Formula 1 become boring?
Jackie Stewart: Formula 1 doesn’t seem boring to me, the entertainment factor is just huge! Although, of course, the fate of the title has already been decided. Without Max we would have seen a fight for the title between Sergio Perez, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso. Three riders from three different teams, that’s what the fans want to see.
Q: Max Verstappen is only 25 years old and is having one of the best seasons ever. Has he already reached his peak?
Jackie Stewart: Usually riders continue to develop at this age, but honestly I don’t see any areas where Max can add more. It doesn’t matter if it’s raining, warm or windy: it gets the most out of the car in every situation.
We can’t forget that he’s no ordinary 25-year-old racer. Max has been racing in Formula 1 since he was 17, so he has a lot more experience than other drivers his age.
Q: Can someone else win the title while Verstappen is in Formula 1?
Jackie Stewart: Now it’s hard to imagine, but just a few years ago people thought that no one could get ahead of Lewis Hamilton. It would have been easy for Sergio Perez to win the title because he was in the right team at the right time. But Perez just drives confidently, but doesn’t show anything special, like Verstappen. Now it is easier for Max to win multiple titles than it was in my time.
Question: Why?
Jackie Stewart: Because there are currently many races on the calendar. When I won my first title in 1969, we only raced eleven Grands Prix. This year there are twenty-two stages. With so many races you can afford a bad weekend and still have a shot at the title. But is that only half the truth?
Q: What is the second half?
Jackie Stewart: How would you describe the profession of Verstappen, Hamilton and others? Formula 1 driver? Right. All year round they do nothing but play for their teams. In my day to make enough money I had to race in rallies, IndyCar, touring and many other places. Now riders start 22 times a season and in the year I got married I’ve competed in 65 races. In those years I had to travel a lot. My record is 61 Atlantic crossings in a year!
Remember, there were no private jets back then and I flew regularly. Today, such a schedule is unthinkable for most riders.
Question: Do you want to compete in Formula 1 now?
Jackie Stewart: Certainly! Now there is a more convenient schedule, fewer races, fewer flights, higher salaries and more luxury at the Grand Prix. On the tracks we lived in tents blown by the wind. Now team houses are brought on multiple trailers. They are not blown by the wind, they have real walls. Today, a racer’s life is much better, but the press follows every step. Every action they take is evaluated.
In my time it was different. In the evening we could have a drink with the journalists, without fear that a retelling of our conversation would appear in the newspapers in the morning.
Q: After Sebastian Vettel moved from Red Bull to Ferrari, you said that he would not be world champion again because he had lost his main driving force. Is Lewis Hamilton experiencing a similar scenario now?
Jackie Stewart: First of all, Lewis is one of the best drivers in Formula 1, but the truth is that he has spent the last ten years playing for a team that has virtually no rivals. Over the years he had only one serious rival: a teammate. Until 2016 he easily emerged victorious, but then lost to Nico Rosberg.
With all due respect, Rosberg is a good driver, but not the most talented in the world. But Nico had an absolute desire to become world champion, and Lewis no longer has such a strong desire. Because of this, and also because his car is no longer the fastest, he gets into serious trouble.
Q: Will Lewis be able to win the eighth title?
Jackie StewartA: It depends on Mercedes. It’s not impossible, but I don’t think he can. And I don’t think he will ever switch teams, despite the rumors about Ferrari.
Source: F1 News
I am Christopher Clyde, an experienced journalist and content writer with a passion for sports. I have been writing about Formula 1 news for the past five years and am currently employed as an author at athletistic.com, one of the top sports websites in the US.
