Sir Jackie offers Lewis F1 title advice

Updated 15.54 Tue Oct 16 2007

Keywords: McLaren, Ferrari, Fernando Alonso, Kimi Raikkonen, Lewis Hamilton, Sir Jackie Stewart, sport, Formula One

Sir Jackie Stewart believes Lewis Hamilton must concentrate on being crowned Formula One's first rookie champion rather than winning the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix.

Hamilton goes into the final race of an unbelieveable maiden campaign four points clear of McLaren team-mate Fernando Alonso and a further three points ahead of Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen.

"What he has to do is finish the race, more than win it" - Sir Jackie Stewart

And three-times world champion Stewart had this message for the 22-year-old sensation who will make Formula One history as long as his finishes second at Interlagos: "What he has to do is finish the race, more than win it."

With Motorsport's world governing body the FIA keeping a careful eye on McLaren to ensure both Hamilton and Alonso are given equal chance to win the title on Sunday, Stewart fears that a "dangerous precedent" could have been set.

The 68-year-old added: "The FIA is paid to govern the sport not manage the teams. I don't know what the governing body is about on this. These teams are private enterprises.

"It is not a governing body's prerogative to start saying 'you will do this in your team under our direction'. So in my view it as an error. It's a big brother type of attitude and I don't think that's the way to go."

FIA president Max Mosley said: "It is not the role of the FIA to court popularity by supporting one party or the other.

"It is the role of the FIA to ensure that the rules of the sport are respected and that fairness is applied consistently for all competitors."