Jackie Stewart once offered to help ‘nightmare’ current F1 driver after being appalled by his driving style

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Jackie Stewart is one of the greatest drivers ever to race in Formula 1.

The Scottish driver took part in fewer than 100 Grand Prix, but that didn’t stop Jackie Stewart winning 27 races and three drivers’ championships.

Emerson Fittipaldi called Stewart his ‘toughest’ opponent in Formula 1, such was his ability behind the wheel.

The Flying Scot, as he was known, never raced for any of the modern traditional F1 powerhouses.

He won his titles with Tyrrell after a spell at the start of his career at BRM, and he’s continued to hold a great interest in modern Formula 1 to this day.

Stewart has credited his wife with helping him achieve his goals, and earlier in his career, he offered some guidance of his own to a current driver on the grid.

Formula 1 cars might be very different now from when the 86-year-old was racing, but some of the techniques are still the same, and a driver’s instinct is almost impossible to teach.

The three-time world champion once admitted that watching Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll up close made him want to offer the Canadian some advice based on how upset he was with his driving style at the time.

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F1 legend Jackie Stewart offered to help Lance Stroll after watching his driving style

Stewart was talking to Damon Hill in an interview with the Daily Mail in 2020.

Talking about handling a Formula 1 car, Stewart said: “The more you play with the car, the less it likes it. If you are gentle, it usually works better than bullying it.

“Senna bullied cars. So did Schumacher. Every Grand Prix, he went off the track, but always in practice or qualifying.

“He was finding how far he could stretch the elastic. It was safe. The brains of his car were over the front wheels, whereas I would always want to be over the middle, not the back or front.

“The balance was right. The best drivers, Fangio and Prost, are sympathetic to the car.”

Hill replied: “You weren’t too bad at that yourself.”

Stewart continued: “I learned it from Jim Clark. He was so smooth, so gentle. I saw Lance Stroll starting out in Australia last year. What a nightmare. You’ve never seen such movement.

“I went to see his daddy and said I wouldn’t mind helping his son. We never did it, but he was overdriving it to such an extent.”

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Lance Stroll made an unwanted piece of Formula 1 history during the 2025 season

The race Stewart was talking about was the 2019 Australian Grand Prix.

The Canadian was eliminated in Q1, but recovered in his Racing Point to finish ninth, four positions ahead of teammate Sergio Perez.

This year, Stroll sits level on points (26) with Aston Martin teammate Fernando Alonso going into the summer break.

Alonso has had his fair share of bad luck this year, but Stroll has capitalised when he’s had the chance, including at this year’s race in Melbourne, where he survived the treacherous conditions to finish sixth.

Stroll broke the record for most Q1 exits this season, overtaking Kevin Magnussen, but declared that it comes down to the level of the cars he’s driven rather than his own ability.

Considering the last time Stroll outqualified Alonso was nearly a year ago, that statement might have to be taken with a pinch of salt.