Irvine: "Hamilton is the best racer ever"

Lewis Hamilton may be chasing Michael Schumacher's record of seven World Championships but one man already thinks he's surpassed him. Eddie Irvine believes Hamilton is the greatest racer ever but he gave the accolade for sheer speed to the German.

Hamilton wrapped up his sixth Formula 1 World Championship at this season's United States Grand Prix moving him a step closer to Schumacher's record of seven. Hamilton already holds the record for the most pole positions but trails the motorsport great in F1 victories. 

Despite this Eddie Irvine already believes that Hamilton is better than Schumacher and better than Senna as a racer.

"Hamilton is the best racer ever, much better than Schumacher in the wheel-to-wheel duel, much better than Senna," said Irvine in an interview with a sportsbook as quoted by RTL.

Despite feeling Hamilton is the best ever he praised Schumacher's raw speed which he believes is unrivalled.

"From sheer speed, Michael was one of a kind, he was so damn fast, there was never anybody who could get up to speed," he added.

"It was incredible to be his teammate, sometimes I had his telemetry data in my hand and just wondering how he could be so fast."