“I was supposed to do a commentary (for television). I never said one word. I haven’t driven that fast since I can’t remember,” the 69-year-old South African told Reuters after stepping out of the red 312 T4 car.
Taking it for a spin at the legendary Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Scheckter got a chance to relive the scenes of his championship victory, which came at the Italian circuit all those years ago.
“And the circuit’s changed a bit, I have to get used to it,” he added. “I had my earplugs in and everything, but when I got out they (the Ferrari fans) were cheering and clapping and all that. The sound of those cars is just something very special.”
Leading home teammate Gilles Villeneuve that day in a Ferrari 1-2, the win sealed the title for Scheckter with two races remaining, sending the tens of thousands of tifosi into raptures.
Villeneuve, just four points back in the final standings, never got the chance to win the title that he richly deserved after his tragic death in practice for the 1982 Belgian Grand Prix, but his son Jacques would go on to earn the crown with Williams in 1997.
For Scheckter, the win marked his tenth and last in F1, retiring in 1980 after a difficult season with the Scuderia. Also for Ferrari, his driver’s title ended-up being the start of a drought that lasted for 21 years, only ending when Michael Schumacher took his first of five-straight (and third of seven overall) in 2000.
Similarly, recent years have seen the reds endure another rough patch, with Kimi Raikkonen in 2007 still their most recent champion.
Rivals Mercedes have won the last five driver’s and constructor’s titles, with both the team and Lewis Hamilton set to make it six this season, after ending Red Bull’s run of four doubles in a row.
Nevertheless, Scheckter still has faith in his old employer, “If they (Ferrari) can get the little bits and pieces together, they can win the 2020 championship."
2019 has turned out to be a particularly disappointing year for the Scuderia, with some strong preseason form giving way to an error-strewn year that saw them go winless in the first twelve races.
“They’re making tactical and driver and everything else mistakes and you can’t do that any more,” added the South African. “Especially with Mercedes and Lewis, they’re a very mature combination.”
Perhaps Scheckter, who now spends most of his time running an organic dairy farm in southern England, can help the Scuderia regain some of their old magic – if he can still handle the monsters of the ‘70’s, the mere playthings of 2019 should be no issue!
And it’s finished! Fantastic weekend in Monza with my 312 T4, my old mechanics and my family. Thank you Monza, thank you Italy! Congrats to @Charles_Leclerc too - I’ve not been as excited for young driver in a long time! #ItalianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/tCMc6GLUGP
— Jody Scheckter (@JScheckter) September 8, 2019