Sir Jackie Stewart, a three-time Formula 1 World Champion, believes that the vastly improved safety standards in modern F1 have changed the way drivers race. According to him, today's drivers can be more aggressive without facing the same fatal consequences as his generation did.
In an exclusive interview with his grandson, Lucas Stewart, the 87-year-old reflected on his relentless push to improve motorsport safety during the 1960s and 1970s. Stewart, widely regarded as a pioneer of safety in Formula 1, noted that although modern drivers still make mistakes, those mistakes no longer cost lives as they once did.
"They are more preventive in safety, but at the same time, taking advantage of that has brought it to a level that it never existed in before, and they do make mistakes, but the mistakes don't take lives as they did in the past," Stewart said. "So it's all gone better. It's no more colourful, glamorous, or exciting. Formula 1 has always been like that. And it's global. So, it's now in a very good condition. There's very little chance of death compared with previously. So, that's a good thing."
Stewart recalled the dark days of his career, when crashes were often fatal. He pointed to the memorial benches within the grounds of his home, adding: "It was ridiculously dangerous. Most of my friends are dead. Almost every bench in this area in our home here is dedicated to a racing driver who's lost their life. So, I had to do something about that to make it safer. Today, we have better safety in motorsport than we've ever had in the history of the sport."
He went on to describe the tragic reality of that era. "They're all pals. You know, we didn't even stop the race. We continued to drive while somebody was losing their life. It's an amazing reality. And you knew who it was. Sometimes it was the terrible sight of only knowing because of his helmet that had been taken off in the accident. That type of thing doesn't happen today," he said. Now, Stewart believes, race management is far more comprehensive, and the loss of drivers is not on the same scale. "It's not impossible for death to occur, but it's certainly unlikely in comparison to years gone by."
Asked by his grandson how he ultimately hopes to be remembered, Stewart's answer was clear. "Making motor racing safer was one of the things that was able to be part of my life. The number of friends that died, in many cases totally unnecessarily, was taken down to a new level, and that's been carried forth by many others," he said. "But maybe I was the first because it wasn't necessarily taken well when we were making race tracks change for us to continue to drive. All that had to take place because there was so much death taking place, and it was ridiculous to continue. And I was just part of that period."
The major changes pioneered by Stewart, such as full-face helmets, seat belts, and improved circuit standards, have saved countless lives. His legacy continues to this day, cementing Sir Jackie Stewart as one of the most influential figures in the history of motor racing.
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