Ralf Schumacher affirms Michael Schumacher’s status as F1’s greatest driver
Ralf Schumacher has firmly rejected suggestions that jealousy motivates his belief that his brother Michael remains Formula 1’s greatest ever driver, reports BritPanorama.
The former F1 racer addressed criticism he has received, particularly from English commentators, who contend that Lewis Hamilton surpasses Michael Schumacher in the all-time rankings. Speaking to F1-Insider, the younger Schumacher brother dismissed such accusations as baseless.
The perennial debate surrounding motorsport’s finest talent continues to generate passionate discussion, with Hamilton and Max Verstappen frequently mentioned alongside the seven-time German champion. Yet Ralf remains unmoved by arguments favouring either British or Dutch rivals over his sibling.
Hamilton holds the distinction of being statistically the most accomplished driver in the sport’s history, boasting 105 Grand Prix victories, 104 pole positions and 202 podium finishes. The British driver shares the record of seven world championships with Michael Schumacher. However, some observers argue Hamilton ought to be considered an eight-time champion, given the contentious circumstances surrounding Verstappen’s 2021 title triumph.
The Dutchman has since claimed four consecutive championships from 2021 to 2024, though he narrowly missed out on a fifth successive crown this year. Ralf Schumacher was unequivocal in his assessment when addressing the criticism directly. “You can’t compare these things. Michael was and remains the best driver of his time. Of course, the world moves on, new drivers come along. I didn’t care about that with Lewis Hamilton, and I don’t care about Max, either,” he told F1-Insider.
He was equally forthright about the envy allegations, stating, “I’ve often been accused of envy, especially by the English, with the argument that Hamilton theoretically has eight titles and is better than Michael. That’s complete nonsense. Every driver who is as successful as Hamilton and Verstappen absolutely deserves it.”
Beyond the statistics, Ralf Schumacher points to an achievement that sets his brother apart from both Hamilton and Verstappen. Michael Schumacher transformed Ferrari into the dominant force of the early 2000s, ending a championship drought stretching back to 1979 for the drivers’ title and 1983 for the constructors’ crown. The German secured five consecutive championships with the Scuderia from 2000 to 2004.
Hamilton, whilst winning titles with both McLaren and Mercedes, joined the Silver Arrows as they mastered new engine regulations in 2014. Similarly, Verstappen’s success has come predominantly through Red Bull’s command of ground-effect regulations introduced in 2022.
In the ever-evolving narrative of F1 greatness, it seems the story of Michael Schumacher, a legend whose shadow still looms large, remains untarnished by the fast-paced rivalries of today.
