Sir Stirling Moss: tributes pour in from racing world

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Teams, drivers and fans have begun sending their tributes to Sir Stirling Moss, who passed away at 90-years-old

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The motor racing world has been paying respect to the great Stirling Moss who died today.

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Lady Moss, led the tributes, saying that she was the “luckiest wife in the world to have had the very best husband.”

Sir Jackie Stewart described Moss as his “ultimate hero” and said: “He was the most dynamic, the most charismatic racing driver I think that there has ever been, and David Coulthard, president of the British Racing Drivers’ Club, spoke of Moss’s unique and raw talent behind the wheel

Lewis Hamilton paid tribute on Instagram to a man he described as his friend. You can see his post, and those of many others below.

 

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Today we say goodbye to Sir Stirling Moss, the racing legend. I think it’s important that we celebrate his incredible life and the great man he was. Saying goodbye is never easy and can be sad but he will always be here, in our memories and will always be such a huge part of British Motorsports Heritage. I certainly will miss our conversations. To be honest, it was such a unusual pairing, our friendship. Two people from massively different times and backgrounds but we clicked and ultimately found that the love for racing we both shared made us comrades. I am truly grateful to have had these special moments with him. Sending my prayers and thoughts to his family. May he rest in peace🙏🏾

A post shared by Lewis Hamilton (@lewishamilton) on

Sir Jackie Stewart posted a moving video, where he said that Moss was an enormous loss to the world of motor sport, and that he had carried the sport in a “majestic fashion”.

One of Moss’s greatest rivals during his time in F1 came in the form of Juan Manuel Fangio. The pair maintained a respectful rivalry while fighting for race victory, both at the wheel of Mercedes’ W196.

Mercedes, with which he won his first Grand Prix at Aintree in 1955, along with that year’s Mille Miglia, spoke of the team’s loss, and team boss Toto Wolff wrote: “Sir Stirling was a larger-than-life figure in our sport and one of the survivors of an age when motor racing was about danger, bravery and camaraderie.

“But most of all, Stirling’s career was characterised by an impeccable sportsmanship and in this he truly set himself apart. He was a great figure in the history of Mercedes, both as a Grand Prix driver and the winner of the 1955 Mille Miglia.”

“It is no exaggeration to say that we will never see his like again. Our deepest condolences go to his wife Lady Susie, his family and his friends. Godspeed to a true racer.”

An icon of the British racing scene throughout his racing career from national level events to speed record attempts in Jaguars and MGs, Moss remained a prominent figure in British motor sport until his retirement from public life in January 2018.

The British Racing Drivers’ Club posted to Twitter saying that he would be missed dearly.

BRDC president, David Coulthard, added: “He has been an extremely loyal Member and a true ambassador for our club. Sir Stirling had a unique and raw talent behind the wheel, loved his racing and lived life to the full. A truly great character and gentlemen who will be sorely missed by all who had the fortune of knowing him.”

Moss’s career extended far beyond the F1 grid, and he racked up an incredible 212 victories from 529 race starts. He proved he was just as talented at the wheel of a sports car as he was in Grand Prix racing, winning the Sebring 12 Hours and Nürburgring 1000km, the latter three years running. Two of those consecutive wins was achieved in an Aston Martin, and the British team called Moss one of the “Britain’s greatest racing drivers”.

Many teams on the Formula 1 grid led the way in tributes from the F1 world, with McLaren, Williams, Haas and Alfa Romeo posting their condolences in separate tributes calling Moss a “legend” in each.

Christian Horner, the team principal of Red Bull Racing, described Moss as “one of the greatest drivers of all time” and said that he “undoubtedly would have been a very worthy World Champion”.

“He was one of the great characters of the sport with tremendous wit and always a twinkle in his eye,” added Horner.

Jean Todt, the president of the FIA, the motor racing governing body, said: “He was a true legend in motor sport and he will remain so forever. My thoughts go out to his wife Susie, his family, his friends.”

Drivers have also offered their condolences. George Russell said that two brief meetings with Moss were enough to understand why he was so highly respected.

Martin Brundle called Moss a “remarkable man” and added that he was “a mighty racer and gentleman. He had a press-on style on the track and in life.”

Mario Andretti said that Moss had been his “hero” and beloved by everyone.


1959 Tourist Trophy

Sir Stirling Moss

Full career biography and statistics in the Motor Sport Database

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