François Cevert

[Ian_C]

40 years ago today F1 lost another bright young star. François Cevert died during the Saturday of the final race weekend of the 1973 season at Watkins Glen, USA. He was 29.

Team mate Stewart was already 1973 World Champion going into his final race before retirement: Ken Tyrrell and Stewart withdrew with immediate effect, and Stewart did not run what would have been his 100th race. With the teams arriving in America equal on points, this handed the Constructors title to Lotus. However, a far greater penalty had already been paid.....

[Life Saab Itch]

Hmmm. Cevert and Birrell for 1974. That would have been a pretty good team. Especially with Jackie being team manager/engineer.

By all accounts Cevert could have been France's first world champion.

A little footnote, Stewart went out again in his car after Cevert's accident to prove to the Tyrrell mechanics that the car was not unsafe. Rather courageous for such a safety conscious driver.

[RicksAlfas]

Programme about him on Sky F1 this weekend.
Repeated regularly over the next few days.

[belleair302]

He is this months driver in Motorsport magazine.

[CooperD]

RicksAlfas said:

Programme about him on Sky F1 this weekend.
Repeated regularly over the next few days.

Thanks for the heads up. Set the Sky+.

[CBR JGWRR]

Life Saab Itch said:

A little footnote, Stewart went out again in his car after Cevert's accident to prove to the Tyrrell mechanics that the car was not unsafe. Rather courageous for such a safety conscious driver.

Not really, Jackie knew the car was safe. He puts it down to Cevert using 4th gear for that corner, rather than 5th like he used. Can't remember his precise wording now of why it was different, but he mentions it in his autobiography.

[Life Saab Itch]

CBR JGWRR said:

Not really, Jackie knew the car was safe. He puts it down to Cevert using 4th gear for that corner, rather than 5th like he used. Can't remember his precise wording now of why it was different, but he mentions it in his autobiography.

3rd and 4th.

My post is almost word for word from Stewart and Jo Ramirez in this month's Motorsport.

[CBR JGWRR]

Life Saab Itch said:

CBR JGWRR said:

Not really, Jackie knew the car was safe. He puts it down to Cevert using 4th gear for that corner, rather than 5th like he used. Can't remember his precise wording now of why it was different, but he mentions it in his autobiography.

3rd and 4th.

My post is almost word for word from Stewart and Jo Ramirez in this month's Motorsport.

Fair enough, as said, I'm relying on memory of reading a book some years back now... My point about Jackie knowing the car was safe doesn't change.

[RicksAlfas]

In the Sky programme Stewart says he went back out in the afternoon to reassure the mechanics (and the rest of the team) that it wasn't their fault.

[Great Dane]

There was a gruesome story going around that the marshals were in no hurry to clear up the accident, because Cevert was so obviusly dead -

[Rollcage]

That would be pretty much true, rather than a story. The extent of his injuries would have left no doubt that he was dead. I don't know if it was the clearing up, or administering first aid that they didn't bother too much with though.

[GadgeS3C]

Great Dane said:

There was a gruesome story going around that the marshals were in no hurry to clear up the accident, because Cevert was so obviusly dead -

Having read some of the stories/anecdotes about the accident I'm not sure I'd be in a rush to volunteer.

RIP Francois

Edited by GadgeS3C on Tuesday 8th October 13:54

[FourWheelDrift]

Life Saab Itch said:

CBR JGWRR said:

Not really, Jackie knew the car was safe. He puts it down to Cevert using 4th gear for that corner, rather than 5th like he used. Can't remember his precise wording now of why it was different, but he mentions it in his autobiography.

3rd and 4th.

My post is almost word for word from Stewart and Jo Ramirez in this month's Motorsport.

They are discussing it here, Stewart asking Cevert why he would gear it for 3rd when it's the only place you would use it perhaps trying to suggest to Cevert a better 4th gearing that would also be used at other points of the circuit. - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4bO74WE5Ak this excerpt is from the TV documentary The Flying Scot, if you've not seen it, do.

[Eric Mc]

There was something particularly sad about the death of Cevert. Perhaps he was just too handsome - and a lovely guy by all accounts.