Ferrari F1 champion loses driver's licence: 'I can't possibly pass the test'

1979 F1 drivers' champion Jody Scheckter has revealed he is currently unable to drive in Italy, after his driver's licence expired.

The 75-year-old relocated to the south European nation from the United Kingdom last year, and to renew his licence he must take a test.

Explaining in a recent interview with Corriere della Sera that his Italian is not up to the standard required to pass the exam, the South African has hired a lawyer and reached out to Ferrari to help resolve the situation.

Scheckter won his F1 drivers' title with the Scuderia, beating team-mate Gilles Villeneuve by just four points. He is still the African continent's only F1 champion.

Reflecting on the language barrier that is preventing him from driving, the 10-time grand prix winner said: "I chose Italy as my country, this is where I want to live.

"The problem is that I speak Italian very badly, I can’t possibly pass the test.

"I was able to drive with my licence for a year, but now it’s expired."

Scheckter raced for Ferrari 28 times after joining the Scuderia for his championship-winning season. He retired at the end of a disappointing 1980 campaign.

The Maranello squad would not win another drivers' championship until Michael Schumacher's third crown in 2000.

Scheckter's F1 debut came in 1972, for McLaren, before joining Tyrell in 1974. After four victories in three years with the team, he moved to the fledgling Wolf team, where he won on its debut at the 1977 Argentine Grand Prix.