© Steve Etherington for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.
After Lewis Hamilton equalled Michael Schumacher’s record, many Formula 1 personalities gave their opinion on his historic achievement.
At the Eifel Grand Prix Lewis Hamilton equalled Michael Schumacher’s 91 career wins record. This earned him praise from many of his peers.
“It’s an incredible achievement,” Max Verstappen said after the race.
“Ninety-one wins, everyone thought that was almost impossible to reach, right? To be there now, himself, it’s incredible and very impressive.
“And I’m pretty sure there will be some more victories coming his way – and probably also championships. So, yep, just very impressive.
“And hard to beat,” concluded the Red Bull driver.
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The sentiment was echoed by Daniel Ricciardo.
“Tip of the hat at the very least!” the Renault driver said.
“With how much success Lewis has now had, obviously Michael as well… his career now has been well over a decade in the sport and to keep coming back and to show that level of consistency at the front, that’s also not easy. I think us up here I think we understand that.
“You can have a package and a car to do it, but it’s doing it every weekend when the lights go out. It’s easier said than done. Certainly big respect.
“I think also the gift that he received, one of Michael’s helmets, that’s one of the coolest gifts I’ve ever seen in the sport, so it’s really nice to see that today,” concluded Ricciardo.
Sebastian Vettel, a big fan of Michael Schumacher, also gave his opinion on the achievement.
“I can’t respect his efforts enough,” the German said.
“I think it’s been a number in my head that I’d always thought would never be beaten, or equalled. I think we’re generally quite certain that 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 other drivers so far.
“It’s probably the fact that I looked up to him when I was a child, and Lewis I didn’t look up to when I was a child because I was racing him, so it’s a different situation going in.
“But probably in another 10, 15, 20 years’ time, there will be more admiration for that, but obviously when you’re still active, you’re looking at yourself and not so much at others.
“But as I said, you can’t cherish him enough for what he has achieved.
“I can’t respect his efforts enough,” concluded the Ferrari driver.
And finally, current Formula 1 managing director of motorsports and technical director Ross Brawn, one of Michael Schumacher’s closest friends and collaborators, also gave his opinion on Lewis Hamilton and his achievement.
“Lewis drove an exemplary race in style, which has earned him an equal number of race wins to Michael Schumacher,” wrote Brawn in his post-race column on the official Formula 1 website.
“It’s a remarkable achievement. Michael always said that records are there to be broken, but I admit I didn’t expect to see this one broken so soon.
“And I can’t imagine Lewis is going to stop here. The way he’s going, he will raise the bar in the next few years to a level that will be astonishing.
“His race today was relatively efficient and effective, almost methodical, though I know from the perspective of the pit wall and inside the cockpit, it would have been anything but methodical.
“Michael was a driver who was very dramatic on track in many ways and had a very quiet persona away from the track.
“Lewis is almost the opposite – quiet but lethal in terms of delivery on track but his flamboyance comes out away from the track. You couldn’t have two more different characters.
“Both have achieved an astonishing accomplishment,” concluded the Briton.
