Eddie Jordan - Hamilton is better than Senna and Schumacher

[Wizzo]

Irishman Eddie Jordan says that Lewis Hamilton is the best rookie he has ever seen : -

Speaking to Sky Sports he said: "I gave Ayrton Senna his first drive in 1983 and Michael Schumacher his first drive in 1991. I've also had Nigel Mansell and Damon Hill drive for me. I have to say Hamilton is above those, just."

There are certainly others in positions of authority within the sport that do not share Jordan's point of view.
 

[cosworth151]

Dang, but I miss Eddie and Stoddy! No one else in recent years held the feet of the F1 establishment to the fire the way they did.

That said, I respect EJ's opinion of Hamilton. I think he will be one of the all time greats.

[SennaMan]

Dang, but I miss Eddie and Stoddy! No one else in recent years held the feet of the F1 establishment to the fire the way they did.

That said, I respect EJ's opinion of Hamilton. I think he will be one of the all time greats.

too right cosworth151 - eddy and paul were great for the sport in their passionately outspoken but generally salient and provocative views

like you I miss their fiery output and input as F1 seems more than ever to be corporatised and dominated by carefully worded press statements from overpaid PR spin doctors

EJ allso has a proven record in spotting outstanding talent and giving them first drives so his opinion must always be given due weight.

However, the greats of course have their records enshrined, down and dusted whereas LH has that all in front of him after a stunning first F1 season.

I may be pin pricking but in the last two races LH badly panicked under pressure, admittedly placed on him by lack of strategy smarts from McLAREN, so to my mind he will have to eliminate that to even approach the records of ayrton and michael.

But can he learn to 'close' out a championship - to professionally play the 'percentages' better?

No worries mate - lewis is the real deal, has 'natural winner' written all over him and will even improve his already formidable talent

whether he can withstand the 'FERRARI' factor though remains to be seen and will add another fascination to the drama that is F1

roll on 2008