As I see it

"During the TV coverage of the Turkish Grand Prix, major recognition was given to Rubens Barrichello's impressive achievement in beating Riccardo Patrese's all-time record of 256 Grand Prix starts. Rubens has said that he would like stay in F1 and reach the 300 mark. That truly would be an incredible achievement, and one that racing drivers of my era would not have even thought of as realistic. First of all, there were fewer races on the calendar. The 2005 season had nineteen races, whereas in 1969, for example, there were only eleven.

Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, the sport in those days was considerably more dangerous, and many people sadly lost the chance to break the record for Grand Prix starts. It's often been noted that in the five years between 1968 and 1973, a Grand Prix driver had a two in three chance of being killed. So many drivers who may have wanted to reach the heady heights of Rubens's record lost their lives, were seriously injured (in some cases, permanently), or, because of those horrendous statistics, chose to retire.

Rubens's mental attitude towards the longevity of a driver, and the life expectancy of his colleagues, over his 16-year career is dramatically different to that of the drivers of earlier years. I said recently in my book, 'Winning Is Not Enough', that I pray to God that the current generation of Grand Prix drivers will never find out what it felt like to have to deal with the death, the mourning, the destruction of families that we had to endure during those dangerous years.

The Formula One driver of yesteryear had, I think, a very similar mentality to a fighter pilot in World War II. There was a small band of young men in any squadron who experienced, one by one, their friends and colleagues not coming back. For whatever reason, they were able to shake off that loss and comfort the families, the wives and the girlfriends who had lost their loved ones. And yet they rushed to their aircraft with exhilaration and ambition whenever the siren sounded for another sortie.

They were doing it to save their country. By contrast, racing drivers of my era were doing it for the fun, the sport and the challenge – and also for financial reward. Nevertheless, they were very similar people, who were able to compartmentalise their emotions and even their fears, who repeatedly faced the challenge, witnessed the carnage, and still wanted to do it. I was lucky to live in – and more importantly to survive – a very unusual time in the history of motorsport.

Many of the elements that would have ended a driver's life 30 or 40 years ago no longer exist today, and that's good news. Formula One Grand Prix motor racing today has the best risk management of any industry or sport I can think of. The cars are safer, the tracks are safer and the medical facilities are better. All of these changes have occurred through the hard work and determination of less than a handful of people.

I have a great fondness for Rubens Barrichello. He came to drive for Stewart Grand Prix following an initial stint at the Jordan team. That had begun as a 'honeymoon period' but, for whatever reason, by the time Rubens came to us his mental attitude and belief in his own skills had been sadly brought down to a low level.

Fortunately, we were able to rebuild Rubens's career, and he stayed for three very happy seasons with Paul and me in the Stewart Ford team. He went on to Ferrari, with whom he won nine races, and, in accordance with team instructions, was a very loyal number two to Michael Schumacher.

Rubens has such experience and knowledge of Formula One that he could easily endure until his 300th Grand Prix. He has charm, he has driving skills, he has a loving father and mother, sister, wife and children. In celebrating Rubens's record number of Grand Prix starts, I wish him well. And nothing would please me more than to see him complete that magic 300."

Sir Jackie Stewart