Lewis Hamilton is a better driver than both Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna.

That is the claim of Eddie Irvine, who is perhaps best known in Formula 1 for having been Schumacher's teammate at Ferrari between 1996 and 1999.

"Hamilton is the best ever driver," he is quoted by Germany's RTL. "Much better than Schumacher wheel to wheel, much better than Senna."

Irvine explained that in stark contrast to Sebastian Vettel, new six-time world champion Hamilton is "only very rarely involved in accidents".

And he said seven-time champion Schumacher made "many mistakes", including controversial title-deciding clashes with Damon Hill in 1994 and Jacques Villeneuve in 1997.

Irvine said Hamilton is therefore the "cleanest" F1 great "in a very long time".

However, when considering the fastest ever driver in Formula 1 history, Irvine gave that crown to Schumacher.

"For sheer speed, Michael was one of a kind. He was so damn fast. There was never anybody who could match his speed," he said. "It was incredible to be his teammate."

Here you can see the latest interview with Eddie Irvine.


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9 F1 Fan comments on “Irvine: Hamilton better than Schumacher and Senna

  1. john trivett

    Senna was the best that has ever lived, he didn't get with a top team till he was 28 years old and one title was took from him and many races were, also. He would take a car that shouldn't have been in the top 10 and win races. You put Schumacher, Hamilton and Senna in the same car, with the same set up and Senna would blow them off the course. Next, Hamilton and Schumacher are not even the second best driver, that honor goes to Gilles Villeneuve, who if had lived would have went down as the best.

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  2. ok then

    Agree with Irvine for once, although it's just a talking point with no one able to prove otherwise. Having said that Hamilton would out qualifier Senna and then out drive him without pushing the car past it's limit. Not all bad news for Senna I'm rate him faster than Schumacher (and Irvine lol). Besides being second to Hamilton is no mean achievement!

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  3. Giorgio Manno

    I think Eddie is correct the only thing I will say though is this , you can't compare drivers from even a decade ago to modern day drivers in one sense . The older drivers like senna drove cars that were crazy fast with even in senna day death traps. (RIP) . So in reality what speeds they drove at with compared to today's cars which in are so unbeliably safe . As for schumi he had always the best technology in his car at Benneton he always crushed teammates in purr speed . Later it was found buried deep in his on board computer traction and I believe launch control settings hmmmmmmm

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  4. Biff

    Good Gawd - this must be a blind brit fanboi page with comments from raw prawns who have followed F1 only since halfway through Hamilton's stint at Mercedes in 2016 LOL. I've been watching F1 for nearly 50 years - since Stewart and Lauda were racing - my Dad watched since Day 1 in 1950 with Fangio and later Clark. I raced at moderate level myself for 10 years and studied engineering, science and sport science at University. I was on my way to writing the definitive book on the sport and science of racing car driving, when Carrol Smith beat me to the punch with Drive to Win. (He did a great job so i aborted my effort at draft level). So let me tell you Johnny-come-latelies a thing or two. Hamilton is not even in the top 10 of all time, maybe not even top 15. He was gifted 80% of his stats on a SILVER PLATTER - if you catch my drift - BY FAR the easiest conditions and easiest ride any F1 driver has ever been given. Schumacher is probably top 5, certainly top 10. Clark and Prost were super special - probably #2 and #3 of all time. But without any doubt whatsoever Senna is the greatest of all time BY LIGHT YEARS - there is not even a close 2nd - he was the greatest sportsman of all time - 3 levels above anyone else in the game, EVER!

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