Ex-Formula 1 driver Gerhard Berger has reaffirmed his belief that Lewis Hamilton can be mentioned “in the same breath” as Ayrton Senna.
The Briton is cementing his place among the greats in the Formula 1 record books and 2020 could see him match the two most important statistics of all, Michael Schumacher’s seven world titles and his 91 race wins.
But in rating where Hamilton really stands in the ‘greatest of all time’ list, the Austrian has previously claimed the 35-year-old is the only driver to reach the same level as his hero Senna and already above the legendary German.
“Hamilton is not just the best driver today, he is well on the way to becoming the best ever,” Berger told Auto Motor und Sport on if he still held that view.
“He has every opportunity to overtake Michael Schumacher.
“I am often asked if Hamilton is as good as Senna and I resisted the comparison for a long time because I knew Senna so well.
“But with Hamilton, I can now say with a clear conscience: he has it. He is the first driver I would put in the same breath as Senna.”
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Of course for Lewis’ detractors, that assessment is likely mortifying and a comments section full of claims that ‘it’s only the car’ will likely ensue but…
“In the past two years Mercedes has won a few races, maybe even the world championship because Hamilton was in the car,” Berger said in response to that argument.
“Valtteri Bottas would have found it difficult to take on the same role in this way. Hamilton is shown he can be at the front of every track, in all conditions and, in recent years, he has learned to be third.
“He now has the talent to recognise that on certain days he has to be satisfied with less, takes the points and says to himself ‘the next race is mine’, that is what makes a world champion.”