Being a 6-time world champion just doesn’t happen because you have a good car to drive in. It takes unbelievable talent, to drive the way Lewis Hamilton does in order to win titles year after year. Undoubtedly he’s a modern-day F1 legend. Even his fellow drivers on the grid, like Daniel Ricciardo can attest to that fact. Albeit with a healthy dose of modesty mixed in with the praise.

Ricciardo thinks that he can win a title against Lewis Hamilton

Daniel Ricciardo was in conversation with ‘Autocar.’ The current Renault driver said, “The point with Lewis- the point that makes him special- is that he had done that six times. Even if you argue he’s had the best equipment, that achievement is remarkable. To stay on himself year after year, to keep pushing himself, to take on the pressure of being the one we’re all hunting: that’s remarkable. For all my confidence- I’m certain I could win a title against him- could I battle and beat him year after year? I don’t know. It’s some achievement, and it warrants respect.”

Furthermore, he said, “There are rarely unicorns in sport. There’s always a small handful of people who have the talent to win on any given day, and our sport is no different. I believe there’s a group of us at the top tier. I believe I and a handful of others, in the same racecar, could have given him a run for those titles.”

“As far as talent or ability to push a car to the limit, there are a few of us that can get there. We need the right car, and then the difference is less about speed and more about the ability to nail results. On a given day a few of us could win. Where you have to hand it to Lewis is that he does it time and time again.”

Ricciardo may not get a chance to put his theory to the test anytime soon. He’ll likely be more involved in the midfield battle than with Lewis, way out in the front.