Breaking: F1 Champion loses his driving licence following D.…Rea

F1 Champion loses his driving licence following d.…read more

Jody Scheckter, the legendary former Formula 1 driver who remains the only African to have ever won the world championship title, has found himself in a rather unexpected and frustrating situation — he is currently unable to drive legally in Italy. The 75-year-old South African, who made history by winning the 1979 Formula 1 World Championship with the iconic Scuderia Ferrari team, revealed in a recent interview that his UK driving licence has expired, leaving him unable to legally operate a vehicle in his current country of residence.

Although Scheckter spent a significant portion of his life living in the United Kingdom, where he held a valid driving licence for decades, he has since moved to northern Italy. This move brought him closer to Ferrari’s base in Maranello — the team that played a crucial role in his motorsport success and the one with which he secured his world championship crown. However, Italy’s stringent driving regulations have posed a major challenge for Scheckter. Once his British licence expired, he found himself subject to local laws and processes to acquire a new licence, which are not particularly accommodating to non-Italian speakers or elderly residents.

Scheckter explained to Corriere della Sera, a prominent Italian newspaper, that the combination of Italy’s rigorous testing procedures and the significant language barrier has made it highly unlikely that he will be able to get his licence back. In Italy, foreign residents are often required to take theory and practical driving tests if they wish to obtain an Italian licence after the expiration of a foreign one. These exams are typically conducted in Italian, making it difficult for those not fluent in the language. Given his age and unfamiliarity with the language, Scheckter feels the odds are stacked against him.

This development is particularly ironic considering Scheckter’s lifelong association with high-speed driving and elite motorsport. As a man who once raced at over 300 km/h and stood on the highest podium in the most prestigious motorsport championship in the world, it’s a striking contrast that he now cannot legally drive a regular road car through the Italian countryside.

Despite this setback, Scheckter remains active and engaged with life, and he continues to have a strong connection with Ferrari and the sport that made him a household name. His story sheds light on the lesser-known bureaucratic challenges that aging expatriates can face in Europe, even those with illustrious careers and public recognition.