Nigel Mansell's verdict on F1's stars and its safety paradox
Hamilton can match Schumacher. Why Ferrari is so special. How F1's essential safety push is also having a negative effect. Nigel Mansell passes verdict on the key talking points of current F1 - with some throwbacks to his era, too
The phone rings. Nigel Mansell has something to add. Five minutes after we've ended our conversation, the 1992 Formula 1 world champion is back on the line with another thought about Lewis Hamilton. It's a bold prophecy: "I predict Lewis will challenge Michael Schumacher's records in both wins and championships," says Mansell. "I won my world championship at 39 and he's only 32. Lewis is on 62 wins, while Michael has 91. With a hit rate of eight or nine wins a season, he only needs four more successful years to break all the records."
Last year, Hamilton eclipsed both Ayrton Senna and Schumacher to top the all-time pole position list, and has only Juan Manuel Fangio (five) and Schumacher (seven) ahead of him on world titles. Mansell's right; it's not insurmountable for Hamilton to become, statistically, the greatest F1 driver of all time.
Share Or Save This Story
Alonso: Hamilton has F1 weaknesses that haven't been stressed yet
The life of an F1 substitute
Promoted: How secret simulations boost F1 performance
Heroes film exploring lives of racing legends to be unveiled in July
First look at F1 2020's Vietnam GP construction, new facility
Mercedes' corner speed nullifying Ferrari's F1 straightline edge
Surprise passes in Chinese GP Q3 prompted Verstappen to block Gasly
Racing Point unveils plans for £25m F1 factory at Silverstone site
BTCC Brands Hatch: Hill takes the title as Sutton wins thriller finale
Exclusive: Hulkenberg: Haas is going to be a serious competitor in the years to come
BTCC Brands Hatch: Ingram back in the hunt with victory
Quartararo: “Unacceptable” to run out of fuel again in Japanese GP
When McLaren conquered F1 and the Indy 500
How Hulkenberg transformed his F1 career with Haas
Jon Noble: Why even F1’s cleverest minds get lost in explaining rollercoaster season
Can Alpine’s latest regime change shift its course?
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
