08 May 2023 , 09:31
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Sir Jackie Stewart issued the perfect response to an incident on the Miami Grand Prix grid, which saw him collared by an over-zealous security guard.
Stewart, 83, still regularly travels for Formula 1 races and made the trip across the pond for the sport's second visit to the Miami International Autodrome. He is usually treated like royalty whenever he does so – as should be the case – but an incident involving the Scot was caught on live TV.
It happened during Martin Brundle's usual pre-race grid walk. He was coming towards the end of his segment when he had a brief chat with Stewart, before trying to grab the attention of Roger Federer for a word.
The tennis legend was in a VIP area of the grid posing for selfies with others and could not hear as Brundle tried to shout his name. Ever the helpful soul, Stewart made it his personal mission to help his fellow former F1 driver and marched into the restricted area to collect Federer.
Before he could reach the Swiss sports star, a security guard rushed across to block his way. Eventually, another staff member came across, presumably to inform the guard of who the man was standing in front of him wearing a tartan cap, and Stewart was let through.
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He proudly returned to Brundle with Federer in tow and the tennis star was more than happy to answer a couple of questions before the pre-race show began. Stewart, a three-time F1 champion, later took to social media to comment on the moment.
"The security did a good job bringing me back behind the ropes," he wrote on Instagram. "I haven't had to sneak past security in a while, but anything for you @martinbrundlef1! Thank you to @rogerfederer for being a good sport."
Brundle got his Federer interview thanks to Sir Jackie's help (Sky Sports)F1 fans on social media were in agreement that the 83-year-old "is F1 royalty and should be allowed anywhere". One wrote: "I would have assumed Jackie Stewart went where Jackie Stewart pleased on an F1 grid."
And another asserted: "Guys like Sir Jackie Stewart and Martin Brundle should be some of the few to be allowed to go pretty much anywhere there. Celebrities and their entourage should be told ahead of time and show respect to them, not the other way around."