No-one can match Michael Schumacher, not even Lewis Hamilton - Sebastian Vettel

Sebastian Vettel

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No-one can match Schumacher, not even Hamilton - Vettel

Schumacher possessed a "natural ability" Vettel has not seen before or since

Ian Parkes

Friday 16 October 2020 18:09

Sebastian Vettel believes Michael Schumacher possessed a natural ability he has yet to see in any other Formula 1 driver - not even Lewis Hamilton.

Hamilton equalled Schumacher's record for the number of wins in F1 when he claimed his 91st victory in the Eifel Grand Prix at the Nürburgring on Sunday, while the Mercedes driver is also set this season to match the legendary German's milestone of seven championships.

While many pundits will debate long and hard as to who is the greatest driver, for Vettel, there is only one winner, although conceded that "I cannot respect his efforts enough" with regard to what Hamilton has achieved.

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"It has always been a number I thought in my head would never be beaten or equalled," said the four-time F1 champion, who has 53 wins of his own. "I think we can be quite certain he will exceed this number.

"Nevertheless, I have to say that Michael will always be my hero. He had something about him that I haven't seen in other drivers so far.

"It is probably the fact I looked up to him as a child and Lewis, I didn't look up to as a child because I was racing him, so it is a different situation.

"Probably in another 10, 15, 20 years' time there will be more admiration for that, but when you are still active, you are looking at yourself and not so much at others. But you cannot cherish him enough for what he has achieved."

As to what made Schumacher so different from other drivers, Vettel added: "I think he was just better than anyone else I have ever seen so far. He had a natural talent that is very difficult to explain.

"If you see him go-karting - obviously, I didn't see him at a young age but at an older age, and I was happy to join him at the Race of Champions a couple of times - you can see more the skills and the car control.

"I think he had a natural ability that I haven't seen in anyone else so far. On top of that, he had an incredible work ethic but I think it is the combination of the two that for me stands out. I haven't seen a match yet."

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