"Michael Schumacher created it more": When Jos Verstappen compared Lewis Hamilton to the German F1 legend

Former F1 driver Jos Verstappen previously claimed that Michael Schumacher created a team around him more than Lewis Hamilton during his dominant period in the sport. The two seven-time world champions are often compared against each other as statistically, they are the most successful drivers in F1 history.

The British driver leads the German in most of the stats given his dominant period between 2014 and 2021 yielded him six of his seven world championships. Schumacher won five consecutive titles from 2000 to 2005 after previously winning two titles in 1994 and 1995 with Benetton.

While appearing on CarNext.com presents: Keeping Up with the Verstappens, with David Coulthard in 2020, Max Verstappen's father Jos Verstappen gave his take whilst comparing Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton, saying:

"Michael in his time, and I raced against him, I was the same team. He was special and he was motivated and he was fit and he was very fast and the same with Lewis. But I think you do not really decide who's the better one. Would you say who had more luck driving the fastest car at that time, both had."

"Michael created it more towards his liking you know he took the people from Benetton to Ferrari so it basically a little bit the same team and I think with Lewis, I mean he made the right call to to go to Mercedes at the right time nobody thought for him that he was winning six titles with them."

Former F1 engineer points out the differences between Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton

Former F1 engineer Aldo Costa, who worked with Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton during their dominant periods with Ferrari and Mercedes respectively, pointed out a key difference between the two legends.

Speaking with QN Motori, the Italian veteran designer revealed that the German driver struggled in his comeback to the sport as he did not like the simulator, given he was used to testing. He said:

“Schumacher was the last driver of an era when cars were developed on the track, through continuous testing on the asphalt, and in this he was formidable, unique I dare say."

“Lewis belongs to the time of the simulator. He has nothing to do with it, the rules have changed. In short: Michael was always behind the wheel, Hamilton almost never because he can’t."

Lewis Hamilton replaced Michael Schumacher in the Mercedes F1 team at the end of the 2012 season after the latter announced his retirement from the sport. The British driver would once again be following in the footsteps of the 55-year-old as he prepares to drive for the Ferrari F1 team next year and hopefully challenge for an eighth world championship.