LEWIS GLORY TO GO ON AND ON
FORMULA ONE legend Emerson Fittipaldi believes Lewis Hamilton is destined to leave behind a legacy that transcends motor racing.
The Brazilian, who in 1972 became the sport’s youngest world champion at the age of 25, reckons Hamilton will obliterate Michael Schumacher’s seven world titles record.
He tips the 35-year-old Brit to draw level with the German’s tally this season – and feels Hamilton can drive on into his 40s to set a daunting new standard.
But Fittipaldi (below), who thrilled fans in an era when larger-thanlife stars James Hunt, Jackie Stewart and Niki Lauda were kings of the track, has paid tribute to Hamilton for the way he has stamped his personality on F1.
He said: “If you look at any sport, it is not just the numbers and results, but also the personalities.
“Lewis is a fantastic ambassador for our sport because he has won the public over. He has won the hearts of racing fans, but he has also reached another public – and that is great for motor sport.
“Hamilton has all the ingredients to be one of the best-ever in the history of GP racing. I believe he has the potential to pass Michael Schumacher’s record. He is fully committed and extremely talented.
“If Lewis stays strongly motivated and has the desire to compete and win, his love for the sport means he will keep winning world titles.
“I wish I could put him in a time machine and take him back to the 1970s. He would be extremely competitive and would give us all a really hard time.” Fittipaldi, 73, is an ambassador for the Laureus World Sports Awards. He raced his last GP at the age of 35 and then moved into IndyCar, where he was a two-time winner of the Indianapolis 500, beating reigning F1 champion Nigel Mansell in 1993.
Fittipaldi was 49 when an injury in a crash at the Michigan International Speedway ended his track career, but he took part in endurance events until he was 67 – and has urged Hamilton to make the most of every moment.
He said: “It is tough to continue competitively for so many years, but Lewis can do it.”