Berger: “Hamilton and Senna are the two best drivers I’ve ever seen”

Presumably because of the way he lost the championship last year, Lewis Hamilton recently expressed a desire to become more “aggressive” in his struggles on track at this year’s Formula One GPs – but Gerhard Berger estimates that he will this is probably not the right approach for the Mercedes-Mercedes.

The Austrian, a former team-mate of Ayrton Senna at McLaren and a longtime rival of Allen Prost, said Hamilton thinks very clearly thanks to his experience in his struggles on track. And so, as Berger noted, the seven-time champion’s approach places him between Senna’s “aggression” and the cautious calculations of “Professor” Prost.

“I’m not sure if he would go in the right direction if he became an attacker like Max Ferstappen.”Berger said of Hamilton. “For me it’s so smart how he sometimes gives his opponent a place to avoid an accident, but then he brings him back in other ways. From what I can see, with all his experience, Lewis thinks very clearly. “He’s got everyone took advantage of the opportunity he had. With the exception of Silverstone, he was just perfect.”

Hamilton is the most successful driver in F1 history, with an equal number (7) championships as Michael Schumacher but with a record of wins (103) and multiple positions (103). Trying to compare it to the past legends he’s faced, Berger said Lewis’ approach is somewhere between Senna and Prost.

“At the end of the day, after 45 years here, Lewis and Senna are the two best drivers I have ever seen.‘ Berger adds. “But I still put Senna in first place. Because Senna’s charm and Senna’s personality were on another level. But from a competitive perspective, I think Lewis is as good as Senna.”

The Austrian said that Max Ferstappen’s aggression in the head-on battles at his track is also reminiscent of the great Brazilian who lost his life at the 1994 Imola GP. And that the Dutchman had to adopt a more aggressive tactic last year because Hamilton “He had a better car.”

“If Ferstappen’s car is the best this year, maybe he’ll adapt or do it differently because maybe he doesn’t need that kind of aggression. Because when you’re that aggressive and it doesn’t work, you have a “Contacting someone or leaving the race is painful. Sometimes it’s better to do what Lewis did last year.”concluded Berger.