LEW WILL BE KING

Massa tips Brit to do better than Schu

FELIPE MASSA believes Lewis Hamilton will break every Formula One record in the book and surpass Michael Schumacher as the greatest of all time.

Hamilton can win his sixth world championship if results go his way at tomorrow’s Mexican Grand Prix.

It will put the Mercedes ace just one title behind Schumacher, the most decorated star in F1 history.

Massa (above), a former Ferrari team-mate of Schumacher, agonisingly missed out on the world title on the last lap of the 2008 season as Hamilton secured his first crown. And the Brazilian, who now drives in the ever-growing Formula E series, says the Brit has never looked back.

“I think he is an amazing driver,” Massa said.

“What he is showing to Formula One is that he can be the most important name in Formula One history. “I think he has a proper talent for everything. “A proper talent for taking the best out of the car in qualifying, a proper talent for taking the best out of the car in the race, a proper feeling of the car in the wet. I think he is a complete driver. “It is something that you could see when Ayrton Senna was driving, when Michael Schumacher was racing and winning everything. Juan Manuel Fangio as well, Jackie Stewart. He is absolutely complete.” Massa sits in the world council meetings that decide on rule changes in his role as president of the CIK for karting.

And the 38-year-old has warned the impending rule changes proposed for 2021 could end the dominance of Mercedes in F1.

“The mentality is that they have to change or the sport can die,” he said.

“The changes need to be done for the sport, for the budget. Nobody can spend that amount of money anymore – even the big companies.

“This can make a big effect at the end and for the show. Something needs to be done.”

As for the impact on Hamilton, Massa added: “You always need to wait and see which car he is going to have.

“This is the most important thing – you have to have the car to win.

“Maybe next year he can have the car to win, because the rules remain the same.

“The year after, the rules will change so we need to wait and see, but I really believe that he can beat all the records.”

Watch Felipe Massa live and experience the thrill of electric racing at Formula E’s season finale on July 25-26, 2020 at ExCel London. Go to FIAFormulaE.com/london-eprix for ticket details.