Hamilton hits back at Sir Jackie Stewart over negative comments
Lewis Hamilton has aimed a thinly-veiled slight at Sir Jackie Stewart after accusing Formula One’s past legends of always speaking negatively about him.
Hamilton will become the sport’s most decorated d r ive r a f te r d raw i n g l eve l with Michael Schumacher’s win record following his 91st career triumph at Sunday’s Eifel Grand Prix. A seventh world championship will almost certainly follow later this year.
Ahead of the Nurburgring race, Stewart, 81, said he could never regard Hami l t o n a m o n g F 1 ’s g re at e s t drivers. He also described Hamilton as having an unf a i r adva nta ge ove r h i s r i - vals such is the dominance of his all-conquering Mercedes team.
“I get knocked by many people, particularly by older drivers,” said Hamilton, 35. “They have a bee in their b o n n e t a n d I d o n’ t k n o w why.
“I have so much respect fo r th e pa s t l ege n d s , eve n though they do continue to speak negatively about me all the time.
“I still hold them in high regard because I know it was so difficult for them, but in 20 years’ time I can promise you that I will not be talking down any young driver that is coming through. There is a responsibility as an older driver to shine the light and encourage.
“There is always talk in
sport about who is the greatest, past and present, but it is impossible to compare. It is not important to me.
“I have made lots of mistakes but that is life. Yes, you can be remembered for having the most wins and that is something special to have. But it is the obstacles I have faced. Everyone has a different journey and a different way of doing things and you should not be knocked for that.”
Hamilton, who will have th e o p p o rtu n i ty to m ove ahead of Schumacher in Portugal a week on Sunday, also paid tribute to his father, Anthony, in the wake of his landmark achievement.
A n t h o ny w o rk e d m u l - t i p l e job s to f u n d L ew i s’ formative career but the father-son duo did not speak fo r a nu m b e r o f yea r s a f - ter Lewis sacked him as his manager in 2010.
“I c a l l e d my d a d a n d ( s te p - m oth e r) L i n d a a f te r the race, and spoke to them and there were definitely a lot of emotions,” added Hamilton, his voice breaking.
“My dad and I have never been so close. It is remarkable and makes me so much happier that we talk a lot, which I n ever th ought we would do.
“We we re togeth e r l a s t weekend, and we now have g r o w n - u p c o nv e r s at i o n s about all sorts; politics, food, t r a i n i n g , r e l at i o n s h i p s . I never thought I would be in that place with him.
“Just calling him now, I said, ‘jeez, do you remember when we had bacon sarnies watching the races? Or when we won the karting championship and we sang We Are The Champions driving home?’ We just reminisce a lot.
“It has been an emotional rollercoaster. He sent me a text the night before the race and said: ‘You know what to do. I know you are going to do it.’ That is how he has been from day one. Family is everything.”