Sir Jackie Stewart feels Lewis Hamilton silenced his critics with a British Grand Prix victory he described as "one of the best."
In recent weeks Hamilton found himself in the headlines for all the wrong reasons, notably the mistakes he made in Canada and France.
After failing to take a point in those two races, the spotlight was further intensified on Hamilton given his hectic private life which appeared to be a whirl of social events and sponsorship commitments.
But Hamilton shrugged aside any personal issues to storm back to the top of the world championship standings with a masterful drive in the wet at Silverstone.
Three-times former world champion Stewart believes Hamilton duly managed to get his own back on all those who had questioned him.
"I think Lewis answered a lot of his critics," said Stewart.
"Rubens (Barrichello, third in his Honda) had a hell of a drive, but no-one can beat what Lewis did.
"For somebody so young and inexperienced, to have driven in those conditions to that level with hardly an error made, for me stands very high.
"I struggle to find performances that compare to it, and it will go down as one of his best in respect of his entire career when the time comes.
"In the short term he will continue to make mistakes because he's a young, inexperienced racing driver. He's still going to have to be given time.
"But what he already has, which we've all recognised, is what he demonstrated in the race - an incredibly high ability of skill."
After failing to score points in three of the nine races to date, Stewart feels a run of consistency is now required over the second half of the season for Hamilton to potentially become champion.
The 23-year-old McLaren star is tied on points with the Ferrari duo of Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen, but has the edge on countback.
"He has to concentrate on finishing races," added Stewart.
"He's driving for one of the two best teams in the world, and the chances are they are going to give him the equipment to win races or to finish on the podium on a regular basis.
"If he does that, there's a very good likelihood he's going to win the world championship.
"You have to keep finishing, keep picking up points."
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Comment 1 - 7 of 7
To quote Sir Jackie, "I struggle to find performances that compare to it, and it will go down as one of his best in respect of his entire career when the time comes." Well, Lewis is a very good driver but I go with Brad on Sir Jackie's comments. I personally think Lewis would be better off if Sir Jackie didn't say another word. Now if this past weekend was a dice between to evenly match car, wheel to wheel, passing and re-passing in wet conditions, then I would agree it would have been a great preformance. Think about it, Sir Jackie said "it will go down as one of his best in respect of his entire career..." From the sounds of Sir Jackie I'd guess that Lewis is not going to inprove. Like I said, Lewis is a very good driver. I've had the pleasure of watching, from inside the fence, Sir Stirling Moss (my personal choice as greatest even though Moss would not agree) along side Graham Hill, Bruce McLaren and Jack Braham all in the same corner at the same time. That's a performance I rate a great. Sir Jackie need to watch some films of the past. Just being British doesn't make you the greatest, winning championships gets you close. Please also notice that you don't see loads of past champions saying Lewis is the greatest. They will say he's very good, but they want to see the finished product.
Well said richnew_155079. Perhaps Brad should let us have his CV?
Brad, I am not knocking your opinion on the subject in hand, just saying that we all (including Jackie Stewart) are entitled to say our thing, just that with people like Jackie Stewart, who have done it, we should at least have the decency to let them say their thing without insult, they know a lot more than us poor mortals do. I am sure that like me, you would love to have the chance just for 5 minutes in their world, and I am equally sure that you would be as blown away as I think I would be to have that chance.
In response to your last comment, look up experience, you might wish to learn something.
No insult intended, I know when it comes to what these guys do 18 times a year, I wish I had 1% of the worst drivers ability.
and of course you have years of experience in this, obviously many more than a 3 times world champion. He is entitled to his view as much as you or I are, just that he has been there, seen it and done it ....... 3 times. Don't know about you but the American adage there are those who talk the talk, and those who walk the talk comes to mind, Jackie Stewart is one who has walked the talk, you and I only talk the talk.
Look up "appeal to authority", you might learn something.
Well Brad, when you have won 3 world championships, then I am sure people will listen to what you have to say, until then ....... please button it
Stewart is the biggest blow-@#$% the earth. Can't anyone get him to shut up?
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