More and more respect for Hamilton: 'Just don't just have to drive'

Lewis Hamilton has seven world titles to his name, putting him on a par with Michael Schumacher. Nick Heidfeld has great respect for both drivers and sees the respect for Hamilton changing.

In Formula 1 the material of a driver is essential, and so it is often said of world champions that it was the car that did it. This is also the case with Hamilton, who won his first world title in 2008. However, as with Schumacher, Heidfeld feels that respect for the Briton has increased over the years.

''When Lewis came into Formula One, it was always said that it was a robot created by McLaren and Ron Dennis. He worked with sports psychologists, did fitness all day and otherwise did nothing at all,'' the former Formula One driver says, according to F1insider.com about the image that people had of Lewis.

''Later, it was just said that he only leaned on his talent, and for the rest was only concerned with music, fashion and America. Slowly but surely everyone is finding out that you don't become world champion as often as you don't live completely for your sport. You don't just have to drive, you have to challenge the team to be better every day," concludes the German.