Lewis Hamilton is at the Same Level as Ayrton Senna – Berger

Back in April, ahead of Ayrton Senna’s death anniversary, former F1 driver Gerhard Berger opened up on Lewis Hamilton. The ex Ferrari driver is of the opinion that Hamilton is on the same level as the legendary Senna. Out of all the drivers he has watched, including Michael Schumacher and Alain Prost, Lewis Hamilton was the only one worthy of being compared to the Brazilian

Speaking to reporters in Baku, Berger said, “Everybody always asks me, ‘How do you see this driver against Ayrton?’. And I always in all the years say, ‘I don’t see anybody near to Ayrton’. But Lewis is the first driver I put on the same level as Ayrton. The guy is outstandingly fast.”

“He makes a bit less mistakes than the others, and what impressed me so much with him, when you have won as much as he’s won, is you [might] think, ‘Today now I’m second, either I’m going to run over his head and I win, or I’m out.’ He doesn’t do it, he just stays there and waits, ‘OK I finish second, take the points’.

Admittedly, while some critics may pitch Nico Rosberg’s title-winning season in 2016, Berger had a counter-argument for that. He believes that even though Rosberg won, Hamilton’s constant pressure was enough for Rosberg to retire after winning the title. Apparently, Nico Rosberg lacked the mental fortitude to continue the fight and he was heavily drained by the intensity of the experience.

Berger even wagered that Lewis Hamilton may even equal Michael Schumacher’s seven world titles.

“I think Lewis, if nothing happens to him and he keeps going like this, for the next two or three years, I think he’s always going to be on to the championship. Definitely he has the chance.” he continued.

“What happened with Michael, on one side I would like to protect Michael’s success, because it’s such a tragedy, and so sad. But when you put this all out for a moment, and say let’s see, then Hamilton is a very special driver from all the time I watched F1.

“For me there have always been great champions, like Nelson [Piquet], like Niki [Lauda], like [Alain] Prost, like Michael. But there was always one thing above them, Ayrton. Now I see Lewis in the same league.”