With three world championships during his F1 career in the ’60s and ’70s, Sir Jackie Stewart has earned a rich reputation in the sport. The British veteran has seen multiple eras of F1 since its early days. So, he stands in the perfect capacity to assess who could be the greatest driver of all time.
The GOAT debate in F1 often sparks divisive opinions as to who is the most talented and successful driver in the sport’s history. While many rate Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton as the top horses in this race, with Ayrton Senna also being in the conversation, Stewart feels the late Juan Manuel Fangio is the ‘Greatest of All Time’.
Now, before Schumacher and Hamilton loyalists open up the statistical archives, there is a strong argument for Fangio to be the GOAT of F1. Firstly, the Argentine driver is a five-time world champion, with all of those titles coming in the 1950s. It was the first decade of F1 racing with incredibly nascent car concepts, very few safety provisions, and deadly track layouts.
While the speeds and power outputs back then may have been slower, it was still the pinnacle of motorsport and to secure five world championships in that era was nothing short of brilliant. On top of that, Stewart showered praise on how Fangio carried himself as an elite world champion.
“Juan Manuel Fangio. Wonderful man. Wonderful individual,” the 85-year-old said in a conversation with YouTuber Lucas Stewart. The three-time world champion recalled how he interacted with Fangio even though both of them did not know each other’s languages.
We now have a third member of the five-time world champion club, after @LewisHamilton joined in Mexico on Sunday
Time to remember the founding member of that exclusive club – the great Juan Manuel Fangio #F1 pic.twitter.com/ed1wkk9w2n
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 29, 2018
Jackie feels that the Argentine driver “carried the sport magnificently. Smooth and clean“ — something that many deem as a necessary quality for a champion driver to earn the GOAT moniker.
Nowadays, amid the debate on who among Schumacher or Hamilton is better, particularly due to both having the most number of wins and championships, the legendary champion drivers of the ’50s and ’60s are often overlooked.
No one knows how successful the likes of Fangio, Jim Clark, and Alberto Ascari would have been in the modern era of the sport. While Stewart did not say anything about comparing modern-day drivers like Hamilton to Fangio’s generation, it would be interesting to hear his perspective.
Jackie Stewart backs Hamilton to do well at Ferrari
For now, Stewart knows it is Hamilton who is one of the best in the business. Even though Max Verstappen ended the seven-time champion’s dominance in 2021 and has won four consecutive titles since, Stewart feels the 40-year-old has wisened up.
Talking about his move to Ferrari, the three-time world champion backed Hamilton to use his experience and get back into title contention with the Prancing Horse. “He’s more experienced than he was last year and the years before that. He knows the business very well,” the 85-year-old said.
Stewart thinks the Hamilton-Ferrari partnership will be quite “colorful” and “exciting”. He hopes the former Mercedes man finds success at the Scuderia as they are looking in good shape, looking at last season’s form book. “I wouldn’t count them out.”
