Webber: Hamilton the best Qualifier since Senna
- Muhammad Humais
- Dec 19, 2018
- 2 min read
Updated: Jan 19, 2019
Former F1 Driver and 2015 World Endurance Champion Mark Webber claims Lewis Hamilton is the best qualifier in Formula 1 since the late Ayrton Senna.
Lewis Hamilton clinched his 5th World Championship in Mexico, after a tough title fight with Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel, the Aussie believing a strong qualifying performance as the reason.
Lewis Hamilton has most poles in history of Formula 1, equaling Senna in Canada (65), Michael Schumacher in Spa (68) and getting most poles in Monza (69), all in the same year (2017). As of now, Hamilton has astonishing 83 pole positions, as Mark speaks about his qualifying performance to Speedcafe:
“In qualifying – I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again – he’s the best since Senna. I mean he is better than Michael (Schumacher) over one lap"
“Arguably he is definitely the best in the last, getting on for 40 years."
“He’s up there with Ayrton on one lap."
“Lewis doesn’t go off the road much on Saturdays but he’s had this devastating turn of speed when he needs to turn it on.”
Lewis Hamilton got 11 Pole Positions out of 21 races this year and appeared stronger in qualifying and race since German Grand Prix, when Vettel crashed into barriers from the lead at his home Grand Prix. Hamilton then went on to win and become stronger and stronger every race.
“I don’t know what his real weaknesses are, that is why he is so dangerous,” Webber said.
“He has definitely had the measure of Sebastian (Vettel) of late."
“We know he is as strong as Fernando, so he’s been hard work for all of us over the years and that’s why he’s got the track record that he has.”
As Hamilton is expected to stay with Mercedes till at least 2020, many people have strong hopes of him getting 100 poles, 91 wins and possibly 7 World Championships. Mark is quite confident about it:
“He is one of the greats (and) he’s not finished yet, so he can be at the top of a lot of the statistics, which is incredibly, incredibly impressive feat,” Webber suggested.
“He could go all the way, especially if he gets (his sixth world championship) next year.
“I think that’s going to be a big indication of whether he’s got the motivation to try and get past Michael, which obviously will be eight."
“Have the next three years on the bounce, a lot of people probably would have switched off by then."
“To watch the record happen would be incredible but there is a lot, a lot of racing to be done.”
Currently, Hamilton is tied with the great Juan Manuel Fangio, getting 5 Championships and being the third most successful driver of all time. As he approaches to 2019 with new hopes, he has even stronger rivals but whatever happens, the time will tell.
Speedcafe.net contributed to this post.
Shahmir Khan
Editor-in-Chief WEC & WRC, Member news desk.
In his own words, “17-year-old guy who is avid motorsports gamer. Petrolhead, die-hard F1 and motorsports fan and loves to write about cars and motorsports.”
Shahmir can be easily reached by the following address:
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