F1 legend names Lewis Hamilton in his top-3 greatest drivers of all time list, but who are the other two?

Former world champion Nigel Mansell named seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton as one of the three greatest drivers of all time, for him. The Mercedes driver is statistically the greatest in F1 history and holds many records such as most wins and pole positions to his name.

The 39-year-old has failed to a race win in just two out of the 18 years in his career which started in 2007. Mansell picked the Stevenage-born driver in his all-time great list alongside fellow seven-time champion Michael Schumacher.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Topoffshoresportsbooks, the 1992 world champion while picking his three best drivers said,

“Juan Manuel Fangio definitely would figure as one of them. I’ll never forget the story of him having his leg burned by the exhaust in the car, driving with third-degree burns, and chewing a coca leaf at the time to take away the pain. In those days they seemed to do anything but the amazing thing for me is they didn’t have seatbelts in the car.

"They didn’t have a proper racing helmet either. So Fangio for one 100%. So the other two I’d put up there straight away because of their achievements, are obviously Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton. Lewis has done an outstanding job. So there’s three straight away.”

---

Former F1 legend heaps praise on Lewis Hamilton

Former Williams F1 driver Nigel Mansell said that he was always a big fan of Lewis Hamilton and realized early on that the Brit would become one of the sport's greats.

The 1992 world champion added during his interview that his compatriot gets a "lot of criticism." Mansell also spoke about the 39-year-old's impending move to Ferrari in the 2025 season. He said,

"I think what he’s done now to end his career in Formula One, going to Ferrari is a magical step for him. He won’t realize, having been an ex-Formula One Ferrari driver, to drive for Ferrari is something incredibly special and he’ll feed off that.

"Give Lewis the car, he’ll get the job done. And so I predict that he will have a fabulous time at Ferrari. He’ll go into a different gear. He’ll be motivated again. And I expect Lewis to challenge for the World Championship in 2025. Lewis is great. And personally, I hope he pulls it off next year.”

Lewis Hamilton signed a multi-year contract with the Italian outfit, that starts next year and could see him race well into his 40s.

He would be gunning for more race wins and possibly a record-breaking eighth world championship with the Prancing Horse and will also look to add another feather to his cap, that of being the most decorated driver in F1 history.