Ralf Schumacher highlighted the key difference between Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher, despite the two winning seven titles each.
Lewis Hamilton, Ralf Schumacher and Michael Schumacher (via IMAGO)
Lewis Hamilton has tied with the legendary Michael Schumacher, each achieving seven Formula 1 World Championship titles. Despite Schumacher’s retirement in 2013, Hamilton has been unable to surpass the German in championship wins.
Hence, amidst the 39-year-old’s Ferrari move, the Ex-F1 driver Ralf Schumacher talked about the differences between the two legends.
Lewis Hamilton enjoyed an era of utter dominance with Mercedes from 2013 to 2020 much like Michael Schumacher with Ferrari from 2000 to 2005. However, Schumacher’s brother Ralf Schumacher reckoned that the biggest difference between the two is that the German was able to work with the engineers to develop the car. Hamilton, on the other hand, has never been able to give precise feedback to his team as said by Mercedes’s engineers.
The biggest difference is that Michael was able to work with the engineers to develop the car so that it suited his driving style perfectly. Lewis cannot do that. He has never been able to do that, if you listen very carefully to what Mercedes’ engineers say.
Ralf Schumacher told Sport1.de
Moreover, Schumacher pointed out that Mercedes boss Toto Wolff talked about the importance of a driver pushing to the limit and providing feedback to the engineers. However, the German believed that the reason for such comments from Wolff was because of Hamilton being unable to do so.
Toto Wolff has stressed several times that a driver has to push the throttle and the engineers have to develop the car. However, he also says this because his drivers are apparently unable to give the right input.
Ralf Schumacher added
Lewis Hamilton to face a ‘hard time’ at Ferrari due to ‘top man’ Charles Leclerc
Lewis Hamilton is all set to join Ferrari in the 2025 season and partner up with Charles Leclerc. The two drivers will form a highly formidable pair in the coming season. However, Ralf Schumacher claimed that the shift to Maranello would be difficult for Hamilton. The reason for this was that Leclerc was the ‘top man’ in the team while the 39-year-old was completely new.
Michael was completely different. He gave direction to his confidants like Ross Brawn and Jean Todt. That only makes it harder for Lewis, because Charles Leclerc is the top man in the team. Everyone in the team knows him. For Lewis, everything is new at Ferrari.
Ralf Schumacher noted
Ferrari’s upturn in performance in the 2024 season is a highly motivating factor for Hamilton ahead of his debut. The Italian constructor has great hopes for the Briton and is expecting championship contention in the next season. Time will tell about how the seven-time world champion fares against Leclerc on the Maranello-based outfit.
