Jackie Stewart vs Lewis Hamilton, best Brit 3xWDC?

Jackie Stewart vs Lewis Hamilton, best Brit 3xWDC?

Author
Discussion

Nigel_O

2,899 posts

220 months

Thursday 5th November 2015
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The biggest difference between Stewart and Hamilton is that when Lewis makes a big mistake, it cost him the race. When drivers in Sir Jackie's era made a mistake, it often cost them their lives....

A lot of the reason that Lewis can have a huge crash and walk away is down to Jackie's campaigning in the "dark years" of F1

coppice

8,624 posts

145 months

Friday 6th November 2015
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I have seen both (from trackside as well as TV) and both are utterly brilliant drivers.I would say Stewart was less impetuous than Lewis and significantly smarter in the cockpit - very much the tactician but super quick when he needed to be and just so bloody neat. Great gearchanger and very gentle with a car.

I wouldn't want to be stuck in a lift with either but the old maxim 'judge the art and not the artist ' applies again .

Stewart was the template for the modern driver in so many ways- sponsor friendly , networker , great speaker and not a playboy . (If you had seen Helen in the day you'd know why). His bravery in taking on the establishment and galvanising drivers into agreeing that safety was massively important also transformed the sport .

37chevy

3,280 posts

157 months

Friday 6th November 2015
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Don't forget the tax exile bit....everything modern drivers are slammed for being!

thegreenhell

15,406 posts

220 months

Friday 6th November 2015
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37chevy said:
Don't forget the tax exile bit....everything modern drivers are slammed for being!
Don't forget the top rate of income tax in the late 60's was something ridiculous like 98%. He wasn't the first or only one to be a tax exile in those days. JYS was quoted as saying something along the lines of 'why should I risk my life every weekend to benefit only the government'.

37chevy

3,280 posts

157 months

Friday 6th November 2015
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thegreenhell said:
Don't forget the top rate of income tax in the late 60's was something ridiculous like 98%. He wasn't the first or only one to be a tax exile in those days. JYS was quoted as saying something along the lines of 'why should I risk my life every weekend to benefit only the government'.
Oh absolutely, and I fully agree with him! Just something modern races are slammed for....most people don't look back and realise it's not a new thing!

Halmyre

11,215 posts

140 months

Friday 6th November 2015
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coppice said:
I have seen both (from trackside as well as TV) and both are utterly brilliant drivers.I would say Stewart was less impetuous than Lewis and significantly smarter in the cockpit - very much the tactician but super quick when he needed to be and just so bloody neat. Great gearchanger and very gentle with a car.

I wouldn't want to be stuck in a lift with either but the old maxim 'judge the art and not the artist ' applies again .
Really? Jeez, imagine getting a chance to strike up a conversation with JYS about Clark, Rindt, Hill, Ken Tyrrell.

What would (could?) you talk to Lewis about?

coppice

8,624 posts

145 months

Saturday 7th November 2015
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I had the misfortune of reading JYS' autobiography and it was beyond terrible. Obsessed with royalty and plutocrats- big fan of Fred the Shred Goodwin etc etc. Not too interested in the personality - most old racing drivers just spin out the same old anecdotes we've heard before(as we all do when get older) - but as a driver JYS was as good as anybody . He will never get the plaudits of a Peterson or (G )Villeneuve but he was better than either

glazbagun

Original Poster:

14,281 posts

198 months

Saturday 7th November 2015
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I thought his autobiography was fairly good until Stewart F1 was sold. After that, like you say, it was a whole lot of name dropping I couldn't bring myself to read through. It was a good to read about his dyslexia & general feelings of inadequacy through his prime years, though. Amazing how much attitudes have changed in a lifetime.

Exige77

6,518 posts

192 months

Saturday 7th November 2015
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We can only judge when both their careers are finished.

I think Hamilton has a bit to go yet.

Tango13

8,451 posts

177 months

Saturday 7th November 2015
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Halmyre said:
Really? Jeez, imagine getting a chance to strike up a conversation with JYS about Clark, Rindt, Hill, Ken Tyrrell.

What would (could?) you talk to Lewis about?
If you could get JYS to talk about Clark, Rindt, Hill, Ken Tyrrell it would be great but JYS's favourite subject happens to be JYS.

Alicatt1

805 posts

196 months

Friday 13th November 2015
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JYS was always a shrewd business man, a very smooth driver and a superb shot. At one time he could have shot for the British Olympic clay pigeon team.
I've met him a couple of times, last time was about 10 years ago and he still hasn't lost his Vale accent smile

His brother, the late Jimmy Stewart, was also a good race driver, driving for Ecurie Ecossé http://www.ecurieecosse.com/jimmy-stewart-1931-200...