Scheckter slams today’s F1

(GMM) Former world champion Jody Scheckter has issued a damning appraisal of today's incarnation of the sport he conquered in 1979.

The 58-year-old South African, who won his title for Ferrari, slammed formula one as a "big dictatorship", despite remaining involved as recently as last year, when he sold his organic farm products to Honda.

"I don't like the way formula one has gone," he admitted in an interview with The Independent newspaper.

Scheckter believes controversial FIA president Max Mosley is a chief "problem", arguing that McLaren's penalties for spying in 2007 is an example of why the sport needs reforming.

"They are not managing it in a fair way," he said. "F1 was always the ultimate technological challenge and the ultimate challenge against each other. But they are destroying it.

"The sport is much softer than it was, technically less difficult."

He said some of the penalties handed to Britain's Lewis Hamilton this year were "ridiculous" and therefore hopes the McLaren driver wins Sunday's championship showdown in Brazil.