Formula 1 champions Sir Jackie Stewart, Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell, Mika Hakkinen, Jacques Villeneuve, Mario Andretti and Emerson Fittipaldi have discussed which events have changed the championship.
The seven champions gathered at the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed in celebration of the 75th anniversary of F1.Â
Discussing what has changed the sport, the champions opened up on the tragic deaths of Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna, the introduction of the ground effect era, and the weight changes.
Jacques Villeneuve
“For me, more from the outside it was, I think Senna,” the 1997 champion explained. “There was a before Senna and after Senna. And how… I mean, in your days racing was dangerous and a lot of steps were made. But the Senna moment really changed the outlook on, ‘OK, now we really, really need to do something about it.’
“Also because I think the crowd watching the race had a different view, where in the past it was part of being a hero to risk your life. And then in the mid-90s, suddenly it wasn’t being a hero anymore. That really had a big effect on all of us.”
Mario Andretti
“I think the discovery of the ground effects,” Andretti, who won the F1 championship in 1978, explained. “And I think that, in my opinion, revolutionised the modern era of motorsports, probably in the most gigantic way.”
Villeneuve added: “It represented what F1 always was. Always trying to find – until the modern rules that are quite strict – that it was always an evolution.”
“Obviously, then it had to be restricted,” Andretti responded. “Because you could go crazy with that to make it so efficient that all you had to do is turn the steering wheel for anyone. But, it had to be, obviously, controlled. But at the same time, legacy is prominent today in every form of motorsport.”
Mario Andretti looks on in the Paddock
Photo by: Alexander Trienitz
Nigel Mansell
“Three significant things are the drivers’ strike in South Africa the first time because it was your dad [Gilles Villeneuve] who looked after us because we were new drivers there. We all went on strike instead of racing!
“And I think when Bernie [Ecclestone] took over the reins as Formula 1, the Emperor.
“And then that fateful day changed racing forever, and you said in 1994 at Imola, when we lost two great drivers, Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna. I think that affected the sport forevermore.”
Mika Hakkinen
“Yeah. Well, I fully agree with you. All of us, we had experiences of driving different generations of cars and when you do test those mega old cars from ’50s, for example, you seriously need a… Serious guts to maximise it.
“And again, from my era, which is late ’90s, early 2000, I mean, it was fantastic! You know, it was so safe. You felt really secure, so you could take incredible risks.
“But again, those drivers who were doing those times and we’re talking about those two, three gentlemen there [Sir Jackie Stewart, Mario Andretti and Emerson Fittipaldi]. They were in an era when the Formula 1 cars were mega dangerous.
Stewart interjected, adding: “But you died. You died in your car and was jump-started with Sid Watkins. That was the start. You saw that we never had a Sid Watkins before. So without Sid Watkins, we wouldn’t have you here today. And that Formula 1 presented itself very well over the years. Considering where we are today. It is absolutely fantastic.”
Emerson Fittipaldi
“I remember when I first joined Formula 1, Jackie Stewart and Jo Bonnier, they founded the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association. And the work that Jackie has done, Bonnier, a lot of drivers, to improve safety. And now how much safer is racing than before? Statistically, it’s fantastic.
“Oh, you know, we remember the late ’60s, beginning of the ’70s, it was seven to one, the odds. We’re like 21 drivers, by the end of the year three would not be there.
“And this is an incredible statistic. And thanks to the work that Jackie you’ve done and everybody who helped you change motor racing. In my son’s racing now, I’m very not so concerned. You know, the safety is so much better. Thank you, Jackie.”
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