The hype surrounding Lewis Hamilton’s rookie formula one year is beginning the convince even seasoned cynics.
Eddie Irvine never had much praise to dish out as a Ferrari and Jaguar driver, but the Ulsterman hints that McLaren’s 22-year-old championship leader could turn out to be even better than Michael Schumacher.
“There’s nothing you can criticise about the guy,” Irvine, who served as Schumacher’s Ferrari teammate for four years in the 90s, told Virgin Media, referring to Hamilton’s opening four career races.
He said: “I think Lewis seems to be a more complete package than Schumacher. Michael wasn’t great under pressure and Lewis seems to not know what pressure is.
“(His teammate Fernando) Alonso’s got a lot to think about now.”
Triple world champion Niki Lauda is also not known for gushing, but in The Guardian he admitted to looking forward to F1’s upcoming race in Monte Carlo.
“I have to say it’s going to be really good watching just how good Lewis is in such conditions,” Lauda said.
Nico Rosberg’s title winning father Keke, meanwhile, said: “Of course Lewis can win at Monaco. Why wouldn’t he?”
