Lewis Hamilton chooses the F1 GOAT and it’s not Michael Schumacher or Max Verstappen
Lewis Hamilton was asked to name his choice for the best-ever driver in F1 history
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Lewis Hamilton has named who he believes is the best-ever F1 driver(Image: NurPhoto, NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Lewis Hamilton overlooked Max Verstappen and Michael Schumacher when naming the greatest F1 driver of all time. The British star also chose not to nominate himself, despite sharing the record for most world championships with seven titles across his remarkable career.
F1 legend Schumacher cemented an enduring legacy in the sport through his early championship victories with Benetton, defining achievements at Ferrari, and his subsequent comeback from retirement with Mercedes. In more recent times, Red Bull’s Verstappen appeared destined to challenge his seven world titles after four successive triumphs.
The Dutchman enjoyed a memorable battle with Hamilton during his first championship-winning season. Meanwhile, current Ferrari driver Hamilton secured his maiden world title with McLaren back in 2008, before becoming a dominant figure throughout his spell at Mercedes. However, the 41-year-old passed over those illustrious names to crown Ayrton Senna the greatest F1 driver in history.
During an interview with Brazilian social media personality Matheus Gonze in November, Hamilton was posed a series of rapid-fire questions, including who he believed to be the finest driver of all time. Without a moment’s hesitation, the British star responded: “Senna.”
The Brazilian legend claimed three world titles before his tragic passing, aged 34, following a crash at the 1994 San Marino GP. Senna remains an iconic figure in motorsport and continues to inspire elite drivers worldwide.
Hamilton was then asked to name the best driver he had ever competed against, once more passing over Schumacher and Verstappen. Following a short pause, he replied: “That’s difficult, I’m going to say Sebastian [Vettel].”
It is a significant accolade for Vettel, who remains the youngest-ever F1 champion. Hamilton has repeatedly praised the four-time winner, who stepped away from the sport in 2022.
“I have an amazing relationship with Sebastian,” Hamilton told ESPN in October. “For me, I think out of all the drivers that I’ve come across in my career, he for me is the most all-round driver. And when I talk about an all-round driver, I mean as a human being, you know?
“Someone that has empathy. Someone that understands, that’s super, super competitive. But [can] put that aside.
“He understands people. He understands that there’s a much bigger picture than just us. And there’s no ‘me, me, me’ with him. It’s about bringing people together. And I love that he’s utilising his platform.”
Vettel launched his F1 career with BMW and Toro Rosso before achieving prominence at Red Bull. He secured four successive titles between 2010 and 2013, subsequently having stints at Ferrari and Aston Martin before confirming his retirement. Beyond the sport, the 38-year-old is a climate and environmental campaigner.
