Harsh comments if I'm being honest. Who was Eddie Irvine anyway?? Did he win anything.
Big fan of Eddie Irvine back in the day although he's going overboard on Vettel. Wouldn't say that Lewis is 'nowhere near Michael' either. He's close, even if he still hasn't surpassed Michael in my view.
I think Michael worked harder to get Ferrari on top compared to Lewis who was helped massively by the big power unit rule change in 2014. Michael and Ferrari didn't benefit from as big a rule change so it was a while coming (four seasons) but when they did reach the top it was near impossible to remove them off it. I still think the era when Schumacher was driving inferior Ferrari's to his Williams/McLaren competitors in the mid to late 90s was f1 driving at it's greatest. In an era of refuelling and no 'engine limits' it's hard to underestimate just how intense that kind of racing was. Every Grand Prix lap was potentially a qualifying lap as Schumi displayed in Hungary 98 when he had to open up a gap of 25 seconds in 19 laps to cover off the mighty McLarens. It was probably the best example of Ross Brawn's tactical supremity and Schumacher's incredible state of mind.
That said, I think Lewis would have revelled in that kind of racing too, it's probably his most natural state.
Schumacher was never going to help someone else to the glory at Ferrari after all his hard work to get the team there.
And too right! There's a great story (of which you've probably heard) that says that Schumacher did not feel like returning to the 1999 season after breaking his leg and he apparently told the President of Ferrari that his leg hadn't fully recovered. Then one day Luca Di Montezemolo calls the Schumacher household and who picks it up but Michael's daughter. 'Is your father in?' asks Luca. 'Yes' says the daughter 'he's just outside playing football!' Needless to say Schumacher gets his orders to return immediately and he's back in the car and proceeds to put the Ferrari on pole by a second ahead of the next fastest man!
I did like Irvine though but looking back who could ever deprive Mika of one of his two world titles? Just an awesome awesome driver.
« Last Edit: Jan 24, 2019 11:10:28 pm by Frankly, Mr Shankly »
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