01/04/2015
NEWS STORY
Three-time world champion Jackie Stewart fears for the future of F1 in Europe.
Think of the Nurburgring - the real circuit, the Nordschleife, not the Mickey Mouse version next door which has been in use since 1984, and it is hard not to think of Jackie Stewart; iconic images of him leaping over one of the notorious bumps in the BRM, appearing out of the fog in the Matra or wrestling the Tyrrell through the Karussell.
As Germany is dropped from the 2015 calendar, Bernie Ecclestone admitting that it might not return in 2016 even though Hockenheim has a contract, and Monza struggles to agree a new deal, Stewart fears for the future of F1 in Europe.
Talking to the Associated Press he said that it is "essential" that there always be a place on the calendar for the classic events such as Italy, Britain, France and Germany, as they helped "motorsport to become what it is today".
"That sounds like me being a purist," he said. "But you have to respect history. They should always be on the calendar.
"It's terrific we have a United States Grand Prix, a Brazilian Grand Prix, one in Bahrain, and that we are going to new countries," he added. "But you still have to respect your heritage."