Sky Sports F1 Online caught up with Sir Jackie Stewart at the launch of the charity auction for Motor Sport magazine's 2013 Hall of Fame to chew the fat on the year just gone...
What did you make of the two McLaren drivers' campaigns and where they're placed career-wise right now heading into 2013?
JYS: "Jenson's win in Brazil was beautifully handled. He won the first grand prix of the year and he won the last grand prix of the year - and the last one was by far the most treacherous conditions. Probably not quite as treacherous as when he won in Canada coming right through the field from last position the year before, which was another example of a man keeping his head together and he's very good at that.
"Lewis is very fast. Faster than probably any grand prix driver on the track today, but not consistently at that level and he drives in a fashion that you can't do it consistently. It's same as anything in business; if you get to be super-entrepreneurial you will fall and make a mistake if you go over the top. He often goes over the top.
"He's now moved to Mercedes. Whether they're going to be as good as McLaren I'm not at all sure. McLaren's got more experience, not a multinational corporation. There is no board on the racing team at McLaren. There will be a board at Mercedes-Benz, as there was a board at Jaguar after I sold it to Ford. Boards don't work in Formula 1."
You mentioned the Motor Sport magazine Hall of Fame, you were one of the first inductees in 2010. It's a great initiative to honour the legends of motorsport isn't it?
JYS: "There were Fangio, Enzo Ferrari, Stirling Moss, Jim Clark and myself I think as the founder inductees. I think it takes a little time [to reach that status].
"Lots of people win one World Championship - it's not that difficult to do it if you've got the right car. To repeat it and have the consistency, that's what it takes, and I think Vettel raised himself in the eyes of many people by the Brazilian GP this year. The same way as when he won his first ever grand prix at Monza in the rain. I was there; it was a remarkable performance."
Your charity, The Grand Prix Mechanics Charitable Trust, will benefit directly from next year's awards ceremony via a special memorabilia auction. Can you tell us a little about that and the difference the proceeds raised will make?
JYS: "It's going to make a huge difference because the items we have to auction are unbelievable. The cylinder head from Alonso's Ferrari - it's like a piece of jewellery. Vettel's actual steering wheel from last year's World Championship, certificated. Jenson Button's seat from the Australian Grand Prix of this year...I don't know how many we've got in total, but they're terrific.
"For the Trust, there are a lot of guys that time has found not to have the good fortune as they might have had. When they get into times of hardship or troubles - it can be children's education, it can be health of course, it can be financial, sometimes it could be as bad as paying for a funeral - there's nowhere else for them to go and the Trust is there for that reason.
"We've got now more than 300 people registered but there's a lot more out there because we haven't made a big song and dance about it until now and it's now beginning more recognisable. But it's there for when those times of trouble arrive and it's been ongoing 25 years."
You can find out more about the Hall of Fame auction, and details of when and how to bid, via the Motor Sport website.
