Whether or not Lewis Hamilton equals Michael Schumacher’s record of seven titles in 2020, Schumacher’s former team boss Flavio Briatore believes that the difference between the two drivers’ achievements is the level of competition each had to beat in order to secure their respective titles.

Speaking on Formula 1’s official podcast, Beyond The Grid, Briatore – who orchestrated Schumacher’s first two world championships in 1994 and 1995 as Benetton Team Principal – compared Formula 1 in Schumacher’s time to today.

“Michael was fighting with big guys,” he said. “You need to recognise that, when Michael arrived [in F1], the climate was tough. You’re talking about Nigel Mansell, you’re talking about [Ayrton] Senna. Now it’s less, the competition. You have two drivers, three drivers… Nobody puts the pressure [on Hamilton].

“If he was driving like a taxi driver with a hand outside of the car, [he’d still be] winning everything because he’s a super driver, he’s fantastic.”

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