Old rival Nico Rosberg hails Hamilton’s achievements
● Nico Rosberg hailed Lewis Hamilton’s record 92nd Formula One win and sporting longevity as great achievements, but said the way the Briton was using his platform to raise awareness of global issues was just as impressive.
Rosberg’s comments came before Hamilton put Mercedes at the top of the time sheets in the sole practice session yesterday ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in Italy today.
The 35-year-olds were teammates and fierce rivals at Mercedes from 2013 until the German won the 2016 title and retired.
Rosberg was also teammate to Michael Schumacher — whose record Hamilton broke in Portugal last Sunday — at Mercedes from 2010-12 after the Ferrari great had made a comeback.
“I have huge respect for what he’s managed to achieve,” Rosberg told Reuters after a launch for the Extreme E off-road electric series that starts next year with both men entering teams.
A phenomenal driver
“One thing is being at the level that he’s at, just a phenomenal driver, but then to stick in there and year-in year-out stay at that high level and be the guy to beat every year and still dominate, that’s just so hard.”
Rosberg said he was also “super-proud” of having beaten someone destined to become the most successful Formula One driver of all time.
The German added that it was impossible to decide between Schumacher and Hamilton in terms of greatness.
“At the same time I think it’s really cool how Lewis is using his platform and awareness to do good in the world. He’s really looking forward, thinking about the future... I also have huge respect for that,” he added.
“Among all this craziness of becoming the best of all time in Formula One, he still has capacity to think of the greater picture and that I respect maybe even more.”
Formula One’s only black driver, Hamilton has been campaigning for racial justice.
Last Sunday, in a television interview before the Portugal Grand Prix, he wore a T-shirt protesting against police violence in Nigeria.
A vegan, he has spoken out for animal welfare, pushed for a more sustainable sport and set up a commission to make motorsport more diverse.
Extreme E, a series that aims to highlight the effects of climate change by racing in extreme environments, will be Hamilton’s first venture as a team owner. . —
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