Jeremy Clarkson snubbed Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher to name favourite F1 star

Jeremy Clarkson snubbed Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher to name favourite F1 star

|

Jeremy Clarkson snubbed Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher to name favourite F1 star

Many would pick from the likes of Lewis Hamilton, Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna when choosing their favourite ever F1 drivers, but Jeremy Clarkson isn’t one to follow the crowd

Jeremy Clarkson’s favourite Formula 1 driver is not Lewis Hamilton or Michael Schumacher (

He never won a Formula 1 title, but Gilles Villeneuve certainly cemented his place in the heart of one famous fan.

Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher are the sport’s most successful driver ever while Ayrton Senna is also revered by fans of a certain age. But none of them compare to Villeneuve as far as Jeremy Clarkson is concerned.

The Canadian racer started 67 F1 races in an all-too short career which saw him become a Ferrari icon. Villeneuve won six races and finished second in the 1979 championship but didn’t manage to summit the sport before his untimely death at the 1982 Belgian Grand Prix.

But as a young man, Clarkson had posters of Villeneuve on his wall having been blown away by the way the Canadian went about his business on track. In a 2022 interview with the official F1 website, the Clarkson’s Farm host described his adoration for one of F1’s cult heroes.

‘Next Max Verstappen’ identified and it’s great news for British F1 fans

Lewis Hamilton thought “it’s all over” as he nearly died in terrifying ordeal

He said: “I think there were two events that cemented him in my adulation really. The first was – I know it was the [1981] British Grand Prix because I was there… At Woodcote, there was the most enormous crash. I can’t remember who caused it. These were the days when they used catch-fencing. And it was complete carnage, cars everywhere, people, marshals.

“When it all sort of settled down, you could plainly hear that one engine was still running, and it was Gilles’. He set off back onto the track with really only half a car and most of the catch fencing wrapped around what was left of it. And I thought, ‘There’s a man so determined to win this race, he’s prepared to go no, no, I’m alright’.

“He was sort of like the knight in Monty Python with no arms and legs. He’s still going to carry on racing, even though he didn’t really have a car anymore. And then of course, there was the ’79 French Grand Prix in Dijon.

The wreckage of Gilles Villeneuve’s Ferrari after his fatal crash at the 1982 Belgian Grand Prix ( 

Image: 

Corbis via Getty Images)

“He was racing for second place with Rene Arnoux. How many times did they hit each other on that last lap, five times? They took it in turns to be knocked off and then came charging back on again… It was absolutely fantastic racing and I just thought, ‘Okay, he’s my favourite racing driver’. I’ve never really seen anyone race like him since.”

Clarkson has since adopted Villeneuve’s racing number, 27, as his favourite in life. He continued: “I still always choose 27 whenever I’ve got the opportunity, because of Gilles Villeneuve. If I see the number 27 in any context, whether I’m betting on a horse or anything, if it’s 27 I will always bet 27 – because of Gilles Villeneuve.

“I definitely had pictures of his racing car on the wall. I bought a Ferrari because of Gilles Villeneuve, the 355. I loved Ferraris because of Gilles Villeneuve… And it had to be red. And I damn nearly painted 27 on the side of it.”

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more

Watch F1 live

Watch Formula One on Sky Sports

£22 a month

Catch all the action from Formula One on Sky Sports and get exclusive access to races, qualifying and much more for every Grand Prix. From Max Verstappen to Lewis Hamilton, you won’t miss a lap on Sky Sports.

SKY

Watch it here

READ NEXT:

Esteban Ocon confirms F1 exit days after slamming ‘hurtful’ abuse over collision

Martin Brundle admits feeling sorry for Michael Schumacher – but doesn’t feel guilty

Argos code offers Galaxy S24 Ultra at an impossibly low price but deal ends today

What time is ITV General Election debate tonight? Sunak v Starmer as leaders go head to head

Horrifying moment planes collide in air show killing at least one of the pilots

FollowMirror

FacebookTwitter

Comment

MORE ON

FORMULA 1JEREMY CLARKSONLEWIS HAMILTONMICHAEL SCHUMACHER

Get email updates with the day’s biggest stories

Sign up

Up Next

Esteban Ocon confirms F1 exit days after slamming ‘hurtful’ abuse over collision

Home

Sport

Formula 1

Jeremy Clarkson

TOP STORIES

‘ALL I DO IS WORK TO LIVE!’: Sunak SLAMMED by mum who asks first question in historic TV debate as Starmer insists PM has ‘LOST CONTROL’ with ‘people like YOU paying price’GENERAL ELECTION

Humiliating mega-poll puts Tories on course for wipeout with just 71 seatsGENERAL ELECTION POLLS

ITV General Election debate: Sunak v Starmer key attack lines as leaders go head-to headGENERAL ELECTION

Sunak v Starmer LIVE: Who is your winner as Labour and Conservative leaders duel in TV clashGENERAL ELECTION

Who is Julie Etchingham? Meet the host of Sunak v Starmer: The ITV DebateJULIE ETCHINGHAM

Identity revealed of woman who threw milkshake over Nigel FarageNIGEL FARAGE

The ‘secret’ Emma Sleep website that is offering up to 50% off mattressesSHOPPING PICKS

Army issues update on horses that ran loose in London ahead of King’s eventBRITISH ARMY

Inside Steven Gerrard’s daughter Lily Ella’s romance with alleged mob boss’ sonSTEVEN GERRARD

Man City ‘sue Premier League’ and spark ‘civil war’ with legal actionPREMIER LEAGUE

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *