11:39 Sebastian Vettel says his ‘hero’ Michael Schumacher is still the best driver he has ever seen, despite Lewis Hamilton equaling his record number of victories in Formula 1 on Sunday.
On Sunday, Hamilton equaled Schumacher’s record number of wins. At the Nürburgring, the German’s home circuit where even a corner combination is named after him, the Mercedes driver took his 91st victory in F1. Earlier, four-time world champion Vettel, who himself finished the race at P11, admitted that Hamilton’s match of the record would be ‘bittersweet’, and after the race, the German responded to the match of the record.
“I can’t have enough respect for what he’s doing,” said Vettel of what Hamilton has achieved. Still, the Briton can not match Schumacher, he explains. “It was a number in my head that I thought would never be matched or surpassed. I think we can be reasonably sure he will get over it. Nevertheless, I have to say that Michael will always be my hero. think Michael had something about him that I have never seen in any other driver.
Schumacher is out of the league based on his natural talent and work ethic, Vettel describes. “I think he was better than anyone I’ve seen so far. I think he had a natural talent that is hard to explain.” This was especially evident when Schumacher started racing in a different setting, such as in karts or at the Race of Champions. “There you could see a little more of the skills and the car control”, Vettel continues. “Both on the go-kart track and at the Race of Champions, he showed that natural talent that I have not seen in anyone else. Moreover, he had an incredible work ethic, but the combination of those things strikes me. I have seen no equal in that yet. . “
Incidentally, Vettel is realistic enough to admit that his image is somewhat influenced by the different periods in which he saw Schumacher and Hamilton operate. His own role in this is especially decisive. “I looked up to Michael when I was a kid. Lewis didn’t look up to him because I raced him. So that’s a different situation. But ten, fifteen or twenty years from now, there will be more admiration for that. But if you’re still racing, you look at yourself and not so much at others. But as said, you can’t praise him enough for what he’s achieved.
In collaboration with F1 reporter Jonathan Noble
