Vettel 'can’t respect Hamilton enough’ but Schumacher still F1’s best
Sebastian Vettel says he is full of admiration and respect for Lewis Hamilton after he e𝓀qualled the all-time Formula 1 wins record, but believes Michael Schumacher remains the sport’s greatest driver.
Hamilton claimed the 91st victory of his career at the Eifel Grand Prix, moving him level with Schumacher’s benchmark for most F1 wins and likely to break the recಞord before the end of the 2020 season.
Fou♓r-time world champion Vettel admitted he never thought the record would be matched or beaten but said his “hero” Schu🍎macher is still the best racing driver he has ever seen.
"I think I can't respect his e💃fforts enough," Vettel said about Hamilton’s record-equalling achievement at the Nurburgring.
"It's been the numb𝔉er in my head that I thought would never be beaten or equalled. I think we can b𒁏e quite certain he will exceed this number.
"Nevertheless, I💝 have to say that Michael will always be my hero. And I think Michael had something about him that I haven't seen in another driver so far.”
Vettel believes Schumacher is a step ahead of his fellow competitors due a combination of h💫is natural talent and incredible ✨work ethic.
"I think he was better than anybody else I🌸've ever seen so far,” Vettel explained. “I think he had a natural talent that is very difficult to explain.
"I think if you saw him go karting,🎐 obviously I didn't see him at a young age but I did at an ol𝐆der age, and I was happy to join him in the Race of Champions a couple of times. So you see a little bit more of the skills and the car control.
"And both the karting experience and the Rꦓace of Champions experience, I think [showed] he had a natural ability that, as I said, I haven't seen with anyone else so far.
"On to🧸p of that, he had an incredible work ethic, but I think it's the combination of the two that for me stands out. I haven🌟't seen a match yet.
"I looked up to Michael when I was a child and Lewis, I didn't look up to him when I was a child because I was rꦿacing him," Vettel added. "So it's a different 🔜situation going in.
“But probably in ♌another 10, 15 or 20 years' time, ther♉e will be more admiration for that.
"Obviously, when you're still active, you're looking at yourself and not so much others. But asဣ I said you cannot cherish him enough for what he has achieved."
Lewis regularly attends Grands Prix for mahbx.com around the world. Often reporting on the action from the groun♒d, Lewis tells the st𝕴ories of the people who matter in the sport.
