F1 Executive Chooses Hamilton Over Schumacher As 'Greatest Driver'

A former Formula One team boss thinks that one thing has put Lewis Hamilton on top of Michael Schumacher in the "Greatest of all Time" debate.

Even before Hamilton equaled Schumacher’s seven world titles, many have already argued that the Brit had actually surpassed the German in terms of being the greatest F1 driver of all time.

Weighing in on the ongoing debate, former Irish Kart champion Eddie Jordan came up with a simple conclusion.

According to Jordan, it’s easy to hail Hamilton as the greatest to ever do it because he was never linked to any cheating rumors.

By contrast, Schumacher often did at almost every team he raced for.

“Both are unique, so it makes me almost schizophrenic to have to choose a winner. But I choose [Lewis] Hamilton,” Jordan told Autobild. “Lewis never won his titles in a collision like Michael [Schumacher] in Adelaide in 1994.”

“Lewis’ time at Mercedes was never tarnished by rumors of cheating,” he continued. “I still remember how much Michael suffered when Benetton was accused of using illegal traction control in 1994. And his time at Ferrari didn’t quite go by without someone pointing a finger at the red team.”

However, Jordan stressed that none of the said cheating rumors should change the fact that Schumacher was a world-class driver.

“These speculations shouldn’t diminish Michael’s performance,” he insisted. “Both [Hamilton and Schumacher] are quite simply very big in their profession.”

German Formula One driver Michael Schumacher gestures at the end of the Brazil's F-1 GP on November 25, 2012 at the Interlagos racetrack in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Photo: YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP/Getty Images

While the world may never see Hamilton and Schumacher settle the debate on the track, the former is currently facing a handful of rivals hoping to unanimously outlast him.

Among them are Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and McLaren’s Lando Norris.

The aforementioned drivers have proven that they can compete with Hamilton, but for some--including McLaren F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo, it is Verstappen who presents a strong case of reaching the seven-time world champion’s footing.

"I think Max [Verstappen] will be at the top for as long as he wants to race," Ricciardo recently told RacingNews365.com. "Probably that is with him, as with Lewis, that he will go far, can be into his 30's if he wants to."

"Just like in many sports, the talents are getting younger and younger,” he added. “I think that's also because they have people around them with experience, who they can learn from practice. This also makes them learn faster."

Hamilton and Verstappen have constantly battled for the trophy in the first three GPs of the season with the Mercedes superstar ahead of the Red Bull talisman, 2-1.

Verstappen's Imola win confirmed Red Bull as serious title challengers Photo: AFP / Miguel MEDINA