Former F1 driver Eddie Irvine has berated Sebastian Vettel, calling the four-time world champion a “one trick pony” who was also “massively overrated”.
Always the maverick with an attitude, Irvine, who raced for Ferrari and retired from the sport in 2002, didn’t hold back on his criticism of the German driver, whom he had already called a “spoiled brat” a few years back accusing Vettel of self-loving tendencies.
“I think Vettel is a good driver, but as a four-times world champion, I just don’t see it,” said the 53-year-old former racer told the BBC.
“I think he is massively overrated, he’s a one-trick pony and Lewis has a much broader talent.”
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Hamilton indeed finds favor in the eyes of Irvine, at least relative to Vettel. But not in comparison to Irvine’s former team mate Michael Schumacher.
“I think Lewis is in a different league from all of them,” said the four-time Grand Prix winner.
“He’s not in Michael’s league and I don’t even think he is close, although he’s racking up lots of wins. He’s got the best car, there are more races and the competition is debatable.
“I think Vettel is good if he is at the front and doesn’t have anybody to race. When you watch Lewis race, he’s focused on racing and Lewis is really focussed on getting ahead of the other guy.
“Vettel, when he is racing is someone, is focused as much on the other guy as he is on where he is going and inevitably crashes into the other guy, which happens nearly all the time.
“Michael was on it every day, like Senna, but Lewis has his off days,” he added.
“If you look over the two years Lewis and Button were together, Button actually outscored him over two years.
“No-one ever did that to Michael, his level of performance was consistently higher.”
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