Massa: "Hamilton just as good as Senna, Schumacher"
- Published on 09 Nov 2017 15:34
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- By: Rob Veenstra
Lewis Hamilton is just as much a legend of F1 as Ayrton Senna or Michael Schumacher. That is the view of Felipe Massa, who says countryman Senna was an idol and Schumacher the most important "teacher" in his career. And his 2008 title rival Hamilton, having just won his fourth drivers' title, "lacks nothing to Senna or Schumacher or any name in the history of world motor sport", he said.
"What he has shown, with the number of grands prix he has contested and the records he has already broken, is impressive," Massa told the Sportv programme Bem Amigos. "He lacks nothing to them. He is undoubtedly one of the best drivers in formula one history," he said, referring to Hamilton.
Massa, 36, was speaking ahead of his last home grand prix in Brazil, having just announced his second and final retirement from F1. "I'm very pleased with the way I've driven this year," he said. "I could have done another championship, yes, because I had a lot of fun this year with these cars with the level of aerodynamic load they have."
However, Massa says Williams has decided "another path" for 2018 and beyond regarding Lance Stroll's next teammate. "I had a conversation with my team, who pointed out that for some time that the financial situation has been very, very difficult," he revealed. "I said I wanted to know by the Brazilian grand prix. The team informed me that the path would be different," Massa added.
He said he had been particularly keen to keep racing for Williams because the British team expects to have a better car in 2018. "I have information about next year's car from inside the team," said Massa. "It will not be a car to win the championship, but it is better than the last two years, which were not competitive cars. That's also why I wanted to continue -- to maybe have a better car. But it won't happen," he admitted. (GMM)
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Replies (12)
Login to replyxoya
Posts: 583
Hamilton in my eyes is a brilliant and fast driver for which I have much respect. On the other hand, he is too much of a girly/hipster type to be put in the same basket as Senna, Schumacher, Prost, Piquet... To be an absolute legend, one must have a character as well as skill, in my humble opinion
thansen
Posts: 6
Spot on ;-)
Rindtchamp
Posts: 304
is he good? yes, very good indeed, a superb talent behind the wheel, but is he on Senna and Schumacher's level?
Sorry, nope.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
We will never know, neither of them are really capable of racing him anymore.
websurfer
Posts: 52
Spot on CALLE.ITW
RogerF1
Posts: 501
Begrudgingly he's currently the best in his time, as was Senna, Schumacher, etc. All with different levels of competition in their time. If LH reaches 7, SEVEN !!!!!!! F1 championships before he chooses to retire he will MATCH Schumacher. If he wins Eight he would truly be the best undeniably and not until.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Agreed.
Barron
Posts: 625
I will venture to suggest that Hamilton is a much fairer racer than any of those mentioned. Whilst talented, Senna & Schumacher were ruthless bargers on track whilst Piquet & Prost played destructive mind games behind the scenes..On many levels, Hamilton is already a more rounded champion than any of those mentioned, and he didn’t come from money (Senna).
xoya
Posts: 583
I agree with this, although my comment still stands.
Rindtchamp
Posts: 304
I don't recall Schumi blatantly lying to save his skin? - go look up Lewis & Australia 2009.
RogerF1
Posts: 501
Let us not forget schuee won two titles broke his leg, then won FIVE more! Makes the seven up a bit more notable.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Furthermore, Ferrari did have dominant cars maybe 3 seasons, but the rest? Schumi vs Williams in his Benetton days were close as heck. I'd dare say Williams had the better car, yet he won. Hamilton has always had the luxury of having the better car when he has won championships.