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Motorsport legend Jacky Ickx strongly praised Lewis Hamilton, saying what the Briton “achieves both on and off the track is dazzling”.
After Lewis Hamilton surpassed Michael Schumacher’s most career wins record at the Portuguese Grand Prix, motorsport legend Jacky Ickx, who raced for Ferrari, McLaren, Brabham, Lotus, Williams and more, had strong words of praise for the Briton.
“In every decade, there is a driver that just stands out,” Ickx told the Monaco Tribune.
“Lewis Hamilton’s performance is spectacular. To win 92 races [at the time of the interview], that’s just unbelievable. Obviously, the better your Scuderia, the easier your race, but I don’t think we can challenge Hamilton’s talent.
“If you look at his teammates’ performances throughout the year, you realise that no one has ever been able to beat him.”
The Belgian was then asked about the one person who managed to beat Hamilton in recent years, Nico Rosberg.
“True. Hamilton was able to beat everyone, apart from Nico Rosberg in 2016, which is a testament to Rosberg’s talent.
“Nico did something exceptional. And being capable of saying “that’s it, I quit,” when you’re at the top of your game as he did….I can only respect him for that.
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“He was a leader in his discipline, but felt it was time for him to retire in his prime. I cannot think of a more memorable choice.
So who does Jacky think is the best driver in histoy of Formula 1?
“I don’t think one can say that for sure. Circumstances have changed, the equipment has changed, and so has the risk factor.
“Juan Manuel Fangio, five times Formula 1 World Champion, is still an icon for me. His was a time more akin to chivalry. At the time, Formula 1 was like being on the battlefield.
“To me, what Hamilton achieves both on and off the track is dazzling. Watching him fight against racism and for ideals puts him on a whole other level.
“He is not afraid to get involved in the fight for a better world, while also remaining focused and competitive on the track. It’s quite admirable.”
