Had Lewis Hamilton got the chance of racing against Michael Schumacher and both drivers were on their peak, it surely is a close competition - a battle pitting two exceptional racers of their time. That's according to David Coulthard, himself an accomplished racer in the Formula One circuit and who had competed against the two legends.
Schumacher retired long ago but Coulthard is convinced the German would have found Hamilton a tough rival. The 7-time world champion in his prime is certainly an equal of the younger Briton, offered the former F1 champion.
Hamilton's recent win at the Turkish Grand Prix put him on the same pedestal that Schumacher had secured over a decade ago. However, the 35-year-old's 94 race wins have exceeded that of Schumacher's and there is no indication of Hamilton slowing down anytime soon.
In contrast, the 51-year-old Schumacher is no longer in active competition and his ongoing health status eliminates any chance of improving his F1 achievements. Schumacher figured in a skiing accident in 2013 and is still recovering from the serious head injury he sustained.
Hamilton, on the other hand, continues to conquer the racing world and Coulthard said there is no doubt that the British racer is "the real deal," per the report from The Daily Mail.
"There should be no doubt in anyone's mind that he is the real deal and not only is he one of the best drivers of his generation, arguably he is one of the best drivers in the history of the sport," said the 13-time Grand Prix winner.
The minimum requirement for Hamilton in Istanbul was to best his Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas in the race but his performance exceeded the expectations, and Coulthard said Hamilton finishing on top was the Briton's way of stating the obvious - that he is the best in the F1 racing right now.
And it appears that Coulthard's assessment of Hamilton's impressive heroics is shared by the British government. The latter will receive a knighthood in time for the New Year Honors, the Mirror reported.
The award has been recommended by former minister Lord Hain and his petition gained traction after two letters were sent to the parliament. It helped too that Hamilton claimed his seventh world racing title in a stunning fashion.
"Lewis is not just a serial champion, he is actually the biggest British sporting star in the world by far," Lord Hain said, adding that recognizing the achievements of Hamilton, who is of humble beginnings, is long overdue.
The former minister said Hamilton best exemplifies that anyone, no matter the circumstances, can "reach for the sky."
