Stewart competed for nine seaso⛎ns in Formula 1 across the 1960s and 70s, winning three championships - he was the only Brit to achieve this until Lewis Hamil🍸ton matched him in 2015.

Verstappen is on course to win his𒊎 third in a row this year, but Stewart insists that today’s F1 is easi🌼er to conquer.

“Because there are a👍 lot more races,” he told . 

“When I became world champion for the first time in 196ꦿ9, we only competed in 11 grands prix. This year the calendar consisted of 24 races [☂although two were cancelled]. 

“Given the number, you can afford to have a bad we😼ekend and still have a ✤chance of winning the title afterwards. But that is only half the truth.”

Stewart was asked what the♑ other half look looꦕks like…

He replied:🐼 “🍃How would you describe the job of Verstappen, Hamilton and co?”

S༒tewart was asked for his o𒁃pinion as a fellow F1 driver…

“Exactly,” he said. “All they do all year long is compete for their team. Back then I still had to drive in rally, IndyCar, touriඣ🤪ng championships and many other competitions to earn enough money. 

“Wh𝄹ile drivers now drive 24 🦋races a year, I had 65 when I was at my peak. 

“This meant that we tr📖avelled a lot more back then. My record for most Atlantic crossings in one year is 61!

“Don't forget: There were no private j▨ets back then, I flew regular flights. This is unimaginable for most drivers today.”

Stewart was asked if he’d rather be🎐 one 🐻of today’s F1 drivers.

“Yes, of course! It's more comfortable foꦦ🅰r drivers at every level,” he said. 

“Across competitions, fewer races, better travel, more pay and pu🌺re luxury at the grands prix. 

“We used to sit in tents through which the wind whistled. Today a numb🍒er of trucks drive up to unload the team ꧂houses. 

“There's no wind whistling through them, they have real walls. The drivers have it muc♈h better today.”

But Stewart accepted there are negative 🐬aspects to today’s F1.

“However, they are also followed by the media at every turn,” he said.&nbs🅘p;

“𝓀Every action of theirs is evaluated. It was different for us. 

“We also went out for a drink with the journalists in the evening, and th🧸e content of the con🤡versation wasn't in the newspaper afterwards.”

Stewart was asked if he can see any driver beating Verstappen to a future F1 championship, while the Red Bull driv🧔er is still competing.

☂“Typically, drivers develop until their lꦕate twenties,” he said.

“But to be honest: I don't see much room for Verstappen to imp𒁃rove. No matter whether it's raining, windy or hot - Max gets the absolute maximum out of the car every🍨where. 

“But you shouldn't forget that ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚhe's not a normal 25-year-old. He has been racing in Formula 1 sಌince he was 17 and is much more experienced than others his age.

“It's hard to imagine at the moment, but people also thought with Lewis Hamilton that no one could beat him as 🌊long as he was active. 

“It wouldඣ be comparatively easy for Sergio Pare𒁏z to win the title. 

“He is in the right team at the righ♊t time - but only drives solidly and not outstandingly like Verstappen. 

“It's even a little easier for Max to win multiple wo🐓rld titles in a row than it was in my time.𒅌”