Who was the last driver in F1 who could be legitimately termed a "Sportsman"?

James Hunt..

 

Damon Hill ?

 

Mika Salo giving up his one and only chance at a victory to Irvine in the German GP 1999.

 

Hill (and I really don't like the guy) was/is a true gentleman in how he conducts himself.

I highly recommend the book "Racers" about his WDC winning year. Fascinating read and one that made me look at him with kinder eyes.

 

Exactly, Damon Hill was a real sportsman and is a true gentleman.


I also think he was a great ambassador for the sport.

I believe that Bernie Ecclestone's U-turn concerning the British GP at Silverstone has a lot to do with Damon Hill becoming the leader of the British Racing Drivers Club.

 

Hmm, interesting. I can see that now that you mention it.

 

stewart

 

Lucky you.

I have read many stories about MS the man outside the cockpit being a nice guy.

Also once had the pleasure of hearing a first hand story like yours: Sat in a plane and next to me a guy who rents out motorcycles in Las Vegas. And sure enough MS rented a bike from him on year to drive to the USGP (at least part of the route).

 

Well, neither Jackie Stewart, nor a few others (Ray Bellm) could change Bernie's mind until Damon came on the scene.

Without histrionic, he delivered the goods and brought back the British GP to Silverstone after the Donington flop, against all of Bernie's predictions!

 

Jackie Stewart was a tool in that role. Sorry. Great racing legend but not a skilled negotiator.

 

Don't understimate the 'wee' Scott !!

He is on the board of several companies, rowing ambassador for Ford and Rollex, etc...

He just clashed with Bernie. The animosity dates from many years ago when Ecclestone was only Jochen Rindt's manager then.

 

Many drivers have been sportsmen like, but a true sportsman sacrifices his cause for someone elses. And though there have been several moments of sportsmanship shown over the years, the only true sportsman gesture was when Peter Collins voluntarily gave up his car and the world championship for Fangio. Collins felt it was Fangio's title as the elder statesman, and his time would come again. He was dead shortly after.

 

Thanks Moretti.
My definition of a sportsman would be one who puts the joy competing ahead of winning and one who would put his interests second to that of the sport.
The commercial nature of our times makes it unrealistic to expect such purity today but some current drivers just don't seem to be having any fun.

 

Takuma Sato


(you didn't say he had to be good )

 

Jackie Stewart is by far the last true gentleman sportsman in F-1. After him, came Lauda who changed driving from sportsman event to a professional event.

as for Stewart being a tool? not sure about that. How many other people have convinced a major Billion$$$ corporation - Ford - to set up a F-1 team, then 3 years later sold it back to them for Hundreds of millions more!!! Bernie cant even do that!

I think Bernie did not like Stewart getting too involved in the business end of the sport so he went on the attack. In business Stewart is very well respected and sought after.

 

Interesting, didn't know the Rindt part

 

I liked the James Hunt suggestion, but, no one has come close to Jim Clark in this category.

 

Rindt's story is a fascinating one. Orphaned at the end of WII and heir to something of a fortune. Bernie was his "business partner/manager" from the early days. Stewart may have an opinion of that relationship.

 

ron, i think you forgot about mike the bike...of similar ilk!