THE LATE Murray Walker mentioned Lewis Hamilton is a greater driver than Michael Schumacher or Ayrton Senna – as a result of he’s a “clear” racer.
The legendary commentator, who handed away in 2021 aged 97, watched a whole bunch of F1 drivers throughout eight many years.
Mercedes star Lewis Hamilton was lauded by legendary commentator Murray WalkerCredit score: PA:Press Affiliation
Hamilton has received a record-equalling seven world titlesCredit score: Getty Photographs – Getty
However Walker revealed in 2020 that the seven-time world champion is the cream of the crop as a result of he has by no means used soiled ways to win races.
Each Schumacher and Senna had contentious moments throughout their careers, however Walker claimed Hamilton is as “clear as a whistle”.
Talking concerning the Brit, he mentioned: “Effectively, individuals say to me, ‘Who’s the best?’, and I at all times say, ‘Look, I believe it’s not possible to say, as a result of the drivers and the circuits and the vehicles have been totally different’.
“Juan Manel Fangio took a number of beating, Jim Clark, Sir Jackie Stewart — there once more I might go on — however which is the perfect I actually don’t know.
“I used to say Fangio. I believe I’m going to need to say very shortly Lewis Hamilton, as a result of should you take a look at it when it comes to statistics, he’s already received extra poles than Schumacher.
“He’s received at the very least three years in him if he doesn’t damage himself or go away Mercedes for some cause or they resolve to cease, wherein case he’s received at the very least one other three championships forward of him, so statistically he’ll grow to be the best.
“However he’s additionally in my view — and that is very contentious certainly — higher than both Schumacher or Senna as a result of each of them, Schumacher and Senna, adopted at numerous instances of their profession extremely debatable driving ways.
“Like Schumacher stopping intentionally at Monaco to forestall Fernando Alonso getting pole place, like Schumacher colliding with Jacques Villeneuve at Jerez in 1997, like Senna with Alain Prost in 1990 in Japan, and Lewis Hamilton has by no means been something like that.
Michael Schumacher received a complete of 91 Grand Prix races in addition to seven world championshipsCredit score: EPA
“He’s at all times pushed as clear as a whistle. He’s an especially good, gigantically proficient driver, and I don’t suppose we’ve ever seen anyone like him earlier than.”
Hamilton has dominated for a lot of the final decade, however Walker mentioned the game’s greatest period was within the Nineteen Seventies and Eighties however believes it’s nonetheless simply as thrilling.
Talking to Within the Quick Lane, the official podcast of the Australian Grand Prix, Walker added: “Quite a lot of it’s wanting backwards by rose-coloured glasses.
“It’s nonetheless mighty thrilling once you consider what a contest it’s with man and machine.
“However I’ve to confess that for me the 70s and 80s have been essentially the most thrilling time — however then I used to be very far more concerned with it on the time as a result of I used to be actually part of it and having to speak to the general public worldwide what was occurring.
“It was very thrilling instances, when individuals like Jackie Stewart have been driving, and we received essentially the most unimaginable races at Silverstone, with Nigel Mansell beating Nelson Piquet, for example, and numerous others.
“You might have to remember that I’m an previous codger. I used to be really on the first grand prix they held at Silverstone in 1948 — and that was earlier than Method One even started.
“In these days in fact the engine was in entrance of the motive force, the motive force wasn’t sporting any security clothes.
“They used to put on a skullcap and no crash helmet. The medical services have been completely minimal, the vehicles have been cell deathtraps.
“They’re infinitely extra refined now than they have been, and it’s no much less thrilling from my perspective.”