F1 Retro: F1’s model pupil

F1 Retro – November 2013

The Goodwood Revival crowd were recently treated to the spectacular sight of Jackie Stewart, still spritely at 84 years old, gunning his Tyrrell 006 round the West Sussex circuit in commemoration of 50 years since his third and final GP title.

However, the weekend that closed that ’73 season at Watkins Glen was marred by the tragic loss of Stewart’s team-mate, the charismatic François Cevert.

In our November 2013 archive piece, Nigel Roebuck looks back on the Frenchman’s bright yet brief time in F1.

A young and relatively inexperienced Cevert found himself at Tyrrell in 1970 when sponsor Elf demanded a French driver, with his future mentor Stewart’s input: “Of the options available, I thought François was the best,” he said.

Though the dashing new pilot soon attracted admirers for his good looks, Stewart tells Roebuck that Cevert charmed the entire paddock.

“He was absolutely unpretentious and genuine,” says Stewart. “Not infatuated with himself, as many people like him are. He was from a very wealthy family, but you’d never have known.”

Cevert built up to a famous win at the Glen in ’71, but two years later was killed there – another racer lost to a merciless era.

To read the full story Click here