Sir Jackie Stewart is a legend of the Formula 1 game, but one over-eager security guard at the Miami Grand Prix didn't quite get the memo. The Scot, now 83, won three World Driving Championships during his storied career.
And the racing icon still attends major events including the weekend's showpiece event in Florida, but Sky Sports cameras caught the bizarre moment that one security guard tried to block Stewart, who was wearing his iconic tartan cap, from entering the VIP Zone, reports the Mirror.
The de facto bouncer at the Miami International Autodrome was quickly informed, however, by another member of staff that it was indeed the great Jackie Stewart in front of him. The legend was quickly let in to the zone for a chat with tennis icon Roger Federer.
It happened as commentator and former race driver Martin Brundle was doing his usual pre-race sweep and noticed the Swiss hero in a cordoned off VIP area. He also bumped in to Stewart who without hesitation strolled over to the tennis hero.
Stewart then proceeded to walk back the 41-year-old for a quick interview with Brundle, looking proud as punch after evading the heavy-handed security. The Scottish legend saw the funny side of the encounter on social media.
"The security did a good job bringing me back behind the ropes," he wrote on Instagram. "I haven't had to sneak past security in a while, but anything for you @martinbrundlef1! Thank you to @rogerfederer for being a good sport."
F1 aficionados, however, said that the Scot should be treated like 'royalty' at Grand Prixs. One wrote: "I would have assumed Jackie Stewart went where Jackie Stewart pleased on an F1 grid."
And another noted: "Guys like Sir Jackie Stewart and Martin Brundle should be some of the few to be allowed to go pretty much anywhere there. Celebrities and their entourage should be told ahead of time and show respect to them, not the other way around."
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