Sir Jackie Stewart: ‘In another life I would have been a Beatle’

My personal style signifiers they are Douglas Hayward’s suits and George Cleverley’s shoes. The height of my sports career was in the 1960s and 1970s, which was a fantastic period for music and fashion. At that time I was a little, what would I say? – colorful, and always had my suits made by Doug on Mount Street (he is sadly no longer with us). It was more than a tailoring shop, it was where everyone gathered. Michael Parkinson went there, the Rothschilds, Ralph Lauren. Doug got me at George Cleverley, and I must have about 40 pairs of his shoes. Fortunately, I have the same shape and the same weight for my shoes and my suits; I still wear them so it’s been a long term relationship.

The best car I’ve ever had it was a red E type from the 60s Jaguar. It was the most beautiful car in the world, and probably still is. Sir William Lyons created it and nearly destroyed Italian designers because it was so beautiful.

The place that means a lot to me it is the Western Highlands of Scotland. Most of the time I live in Switzerland and my home there overlooks Mont Blanc and Lake Geneva, and it’s beautiful. But the Western Highlands have no rival. When it’s up, it’s the most beautiful, and when it’s down, it’s the most threatening. I still go there every year, usually with my kids, and just drive up and down.

The E-type Jaguar was the most beautiful car in the world, and probably still is

And the best memory I have brought home. was a Rolex Daytona watch that was given to me when I won the Monte Carlo Grand Prix in 1971. It was a big deal for me. I still have it. The other was when I did well in Indianapolis in 1966. [Stewart had to retire from the lead with nine laps to go], and Texan, John Mecom Jr, who owns the team I drove for, was so pleased with my grid position that he took me to Houston and bought me a solid gold Rolex Day-Date. I have never had anything like it in my life at that cost, it was crazy.

The last thing I bought and I loved it. it was an evening jacket. I had an accident with my normal. I was at Geri Horner’s birthday party, and there was a candle behind me and I didn’t see it, and it burned the back of my velvet evening jacket. So I just made a new one for anderson and shepard.

The best book I have read in the last year. It’s my autobiography winning is not enough, from 2007. I had never read it. I was surprised because she has such fantastic memories and so many people: queen elizabeth ii, Sir William Purves, who was Chairman of HSBC, Jim Clark and Graham Hill. When I finished it, several times I was on the verge of crying. I’m dyslexic and I don’t read much. I couldn’t say how many books I’ve tried to read. Alistair MacLean was a good friend and he used to read his books. He would give me large print editions.

The best gift I have been given was of Ken Tyrrell, when I retired from motorsport. He gave me the Tyrrell with which I won my first world championship. it was terrible car. She said that I used to say that it was like a load of shit. So at the end of my retirement event, she said, “This is my gift to you. I know it’s a bunch of bullshit, but it’s the best I can give you.

My favorite song it is “The Long and Winding Road” by The Beatles; Of course, the winding road was a part of my life. Elton John It’s still a favorite, just like Pink Floyd.

in my fridge you will always find Mars bars.

My mother was the best driver in the family.

I have recently rediscovered a photograph of my father In it he is a mature man and I think he is about to give up his pipe, it seems. That is my little treasure. He had a garage. My mother was the best driver in the family, but without my father the garage would not have existed. It was small and unassuming, but it produced my brother, who was a racing driver, and then me. It still exists in Dumbarton, and I go there every time I’m there.

I have a collection of paintings by Scottish colourists, all straight out of the Glasgow School of Art, where my mother also went. I also have a Sir Walter Scott Landseer which is a very wide panorama. It is worth more than all the others put together.

could not do without my dogs. I have two Norfolk terriers, Jack and Jill. I’ve had dogs most of my life and of course I’ve lost them, as well as my driver friends. They have never been forgotten and neither have my dogs. Today I receive enormous strength and love from my dogs.

my style icon It’s King Hussein of Jordan, who I think was the greatest man I’ve ever known. And the other is undoubtedly Queen Elizabeth II. The most impressive and nice woman I have ever met. she came to this house [in Buckinghamshire] many times for lunch. George Harrison would be number three. He had the most wonderful brain, far beyond what people believe in that man.

I’m picky take care of myself and keep me in good shape. In the morning I stretch for about 45 minutes. And once, sometimes twice, a year I go to mayo clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, because I believe that preventive medicine is better than corrective medicine.

My biggest challenge today is to find a cure for dementia. My wife Helen was diagnosed eight years ago. I have this charity called Race Against Dementia, and all over the world we are recruiting young doctors and young professors from the best medical universities to research a cure. carreracontraladementia.com

My favorite room in my house. it’s the living room. When I bought the house, it was only half the size it is today. I deleted a pool to expand it. It has good art and memorabilia. It’s very personal, and Helen loves it too.

The moment that changed everything for me That’s when they told me I was dyslexic [Stewart is president of Dyslexia Scotland] and that I was not stupid or foolish or dumb. My school life was the most unhappy time of my entire life. In a funny way, when you’re dyslexic you think outside the box, and you don’t think like so-called smart people. And many very intelligent people are dyslexic because they think in a completely different area; That’s the story of my life, for sure. Churchill, Einstein and Leonardo da Vinci were [reputedly] dyslexics; Steven Spielberg is too.

In another life I would has been a Beatle. I love music, but I don’t play myself. He is a fantastically creative communicator, personable, pleasant, and sometimes sad. I am a friend of the violinist Nicola Benedetti, seeing her play her violin in that way is simply a joy. Or Sinatra: I thought he was fantastic and I got to know him.

The best advice I’ve ever been given it was “less promise and more delivery” – from my father.