Michael Schumacher’s brother in fresh attack on Lewis Hamilton – ‘He can’t do…….read more
Michael Schumacher’s brother in fresh attack on Lewis Hamilton – ‘He can’t do…….read more
Ralf Schumacher, the brother of legendary Formula One driver Michael Schumacher, has launched a sharp criticism of Lewis Hamilton, particularly in comparison to his own brother’s abilities as a driver. Schumacher, who himself raced in F1 for a decade, believes that Hamilton has never been able to develop a car to suit his driving style in the way Michael did during his career.
Schumacher’s comments come as Hamilton prepares to make a switch to Ferrari, a move that will see him continue his pursuit of a record-breaking eighth World Championship. Both Hamilton and Michael Schumacher are tied on seven titles, and debates about who is the better driver have been ongoing for years. Ralf Schumacher, however, seems to believe that the case is clear-cut.
In an interview with Sport1.de, Ralf highlighted what he sees as a major difference between the two drivers: Michael Schumacher’s ability to work with engineers to develop a car perfectly suited to his driving style. According to Ralf, Michael’s engineering insight allowed him to push a car to its limits, something Hamilton has struggled to do throughout his career. He pointed out that Michael’s unique talent was not just as a driver but also in his ability to provide critical feedback to the team. Schumacher would work closely with engineers to refine the car’s setup, ensuring it complemented his driving.
Ralf went on to say that Michael’s approach was significantly different from Hamilton’s. He cited Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, who has repeatedly emphasized that Hamilton relies on the team to develop the car around him rather than taking an active role in the car’s development himself. According to Ralf, this is where the contrast lies: while Michael took a much more hands-on approach, Hamilton has depended on others to do much of the heavy lifting.
This lack of versatility is something Ralf has criticized Hamilton for in the past. He suggested that Hamilton’s success often depends on a car that is tailored to his preferences, while Michael could adapt to a car, providing the necessary input to the engineers to fine-tune it. Ralf’s criticism suggests that Hamilton is more reliant on external factors aligning perfectly to perform at his best, whereas Michael demonstrated a broader skill set, able to bring the best out of any car he drove.
Ralf also expressed skepticism about Hamilton’s future at Ferrari, where he is expected to face fierce competition from current team star Charles Leclerc. Ralf believes that Leclerc, who has established himself as Ferrari’s top driver, will continue to hold the advantage in the team. “Charles Leclerc is the top dog. Everyone in the team knows him,” Ralf said. For Hamilton, the situation will be much different, as he enters a team with a strong leader already in place. “Everything is new at Ferrari for Lewis,” Ralf added, implying that Hamilton will face significant challenges in adapting to the team dynamics and taking on a leading role.
Ralf Schumacher’s remarks add to a long-standing narrative about the differences between Hamilton and his competitors, particularly Michael Schumacher. While Hamilton has undoubtedly achieved great success in Formula One, Ralf’s comments suggest that he believes the Brit’s career has been shaped more by the car and team around him rather than his own ability to shape and develop those factors himself. These opinions reflect a broader debate in F1 about what constitutes a truly great driver, with some placing greater value on technical input and adaptability, areas where Michael Schumacher has often been viewed as superior.
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