Sir Stirling Moss on the current state of F1

[11tenths]

Here’s an excerpt from an interview I transcribed between Sir Sterling Moss and Peter Windsor at the 2004 Goodwood Festival of Speed. This interview took place during Goodwood Revival Meetings, for the Royal Automobile Club's TT Celebration.

Sterling makes reference to older, pre-traction control, pre-ABS cars in this excerpt, so the setting of the interview is needed to understand the point he is making below:

Peter Windsor:

In the context of your career and the sort of risks you took and the job you did, and the money you earned for that, what do you think of the salaries the drivers are getting today, the Michael Schmachers, the Kimi Raikkonens, the Ralf Schmachers.

Sir Sterling Moss:

Well, I must say I think it’s a shame, I don’t think, I mean, the very best in the world, Michael Schumacher is certainly worth what he can get, that’s the tragedy, he is the best, he is worth what he can get. If he can get $70 million US or $100 million what can one say. I think it's wrong, it’s almost immoral. I think it’s ruined racing not just because of them but because of the technology.

You see, when you get in the car, well these cars particularly, when you get in, the driver contributes 20, 30, 40% of the ‘winningness‘ of that vehicle. And I think the more the driver can contribute, the better it is. If you start bringing things like anti-lock brakes, or traction control, or all these things, then the driver’s contribution is lessened, and his expertise isn’t explored. And I think the whole art of driving a car is being able to hear the message the car is passing to you. Feeling it through the seat of your pants and then taking correction to what it is it's doing.