Just in:F1 champion loses his dr....read more

F1 champion loses his dr….read more

Jody Scheckter, the only African-born driver to win a Formula 1 World Championship, has revealed that he has lost his driver’s licence due to strict regulations in the country where he currently resides. The 1979 F1 world champion, who originally hails from South Africa, made the surprising admission during a recent interview, explaining that he no longer holds a valid licence and doesn’t believe he could pass the driving test if he tried to retake it now.

Scheckter, now in his 70s, clinched his title while driving for the iconic Ferrari team. He beat his then-teammate, the legendary Canadian driver Gilles Villeneuve, to secure the championship in a season that remains memorable for fans of the sport. Villeneuve’s own legacy was carried forward years later by his son, Jacques Villeneuve, who would go on to win the 1997 World Championship, making the Villeneuve name one of the few in motorsport with two generations of winners.

Despite his elite driving pedigree, Scheckter admitted that modern licensing requirements have left him without the legal ability to drive a regular vehicle on public roads. While he didn’t specify which country he’s currently based in, it appears that local rules demand that drivers over a certain age retake tests or meet specific health and competence criteria to maintain their licences. For Scheckter, those requirements proved too complex or impractical to meet, especially given the changes in driving tests over the decades.

“I’ve lost my licence,” he said candidly. “The rules in this country are strict, and I just don’t think I could pass the test again. Things have changed so much since I first got my licence, and frankly, the process now is a lot more demanding.”

The irony is not lost on fans of motorsport: a man who once piloted some of the fastest and most dangerous racing machines on Earth, competing against the best drivers of his era, is now unable to legally drive an everyday car. Scheckter’s career in Formula 1 was brief but brilliant. He debuted in the early 1970s and quickly gained a reputation for both speed and aggression on the track. After joining Ferrari in 1979, he delivered the Scuderia its first driver’s title since 1975, becoming the only driver from Africa to achieve that feat.

After retiring from Formula 1 in 1980, Scheckter moved into business and later became known for his organic farming ventures in the United Kingdom, where he established a successful organic farm and food brand. Over the years, he has also remained active in the motorsport world, occasionally appearing at F1 events and classic car shows, where he is celebrated as one of the sport’s champions.

Scheckter’s revelation is a reminder that even the most skilled professional drivers are not exempt from everyday bureaucratic and legal requirements. While he may have conquered the highest level of motorsport, the modern driving test, with its intricate regulations and evolving standards, now presents a different kind of challenge—one that the former Ferrari star is happy to leave behind.

“I’ve had my time behind the wheel,” Scheckter said with a smile. “Now I just let others do the driving.”

Though no longer driving legally himself, Jody Scheckter remains a revered figure in the world of Formula 1 and motorsport history. His story serves as both a humorous twist on retirement life and a reflection on how even champions must adjust to the rules of everyday living.