“Can’t pass the exam”
F1 world champion no longer has a valid driver’s license
03.06.2025 – 12:54 p.m.Reading time: 1 min.
In 1979 Jody Schecked Formula 1 World Champion. Almost half a century later he no longer has a valid driver’s license. But that is not due to his driving skills.
Jody Scheckter has lived in Italy for a year and a half. Now the former Formula 1 world champion is facing an unusual gait: the 75-year-old has to take the driver’s license test again.
The South African has moved his place of residence to the Ligurian region – but his driver’s license is now invalid there. Scheckter explained to the Italian newspaper “Corriere della Sera” that he could easily move on traffic with the document for a year, but this period had expired.
However, the larger hurdle for the ex-Ferrari pilot is not driving itself. “The problem is that I speak Italian very badly, I cannot pass the exam,” he said.
In order to find a solution to the problem, he also contacted his former employer Ferrari. Supported by a lawyer, Scheckter is currently trying to find a way that can still meet the Italian requirements. “I chose Italy as my country, I want to live here,” he emphasized.
Between 1972 and 1980, Scheckter played 112 races in Formula 1. He celebrated his greatest success in 1979: at that time he won the World Cup in the Ferrari. Only Michael Schumacher won a title for the traditional racing team from Maranello in 2000.