Formula 1 fans will forever debate who’s the greatest driver in the sport’s storied history.
The 2025 F1 season will mark 75 years since the sport’s first campaign in 1950 when Giuseppe Farina won the seven-event championship.
In that time, several drivers have gone on to dominate their eras, with Max Verstappen the latest star quickly adding his name to that list.
However, three names are discussed more than any others when it comes to deciding Formula 1’s greatest driver.
Ayrton Senna was remarkable and would have almost certainly added to his three championships had he not been tragically killed at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.
Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton share the record for the most championships with seven each.
Hamilton joins Ferrari in 2025 to try and break Schumacher’s record and help the Italian team win their first championship since 2008 which would almost certainly cement his reputation as F1’s best driver.
Karun Chandhok was speaking on the FanCode YouTube channel and asked an almost impossible question about three of F1’s most legendary stars.
Karun Chandhok chooses between Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton
Chandhok was asked to choose between three drivers, one that he had to sign for his theoretical F1 team, one he had to keep as a reserve and one he had to drop.
He was told to choose between Senna, Schumacher and Hamilton and said: “Oh god!
“I would…this is an impossible one, it’s absolutely impossible.
“In their prime, I’m going to be controversial and say I will keep Hamilton, Schumacher reserve and cut Senna because I think if I was the team boss, I would want people who are team players.
“And I think Schumacher and Hamilton were better team players and it’ll make my life easier.”
READ MORE: All to know about Ayrton Senna including Alain Prost rivalry and Imola crash
Lewis Hamilton lived out his Ayrton Senna dream in 2024
Hamilton has always made it clear how much he admires Senna, talking about the Brazilian more than a decade ago when he first joined Mercedes in an interview with the Daily Mail.
He said when asked about driving one of Senna’s cars: “It was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had.
“Senna, Gilles Villeneuve — they were very similar. That’s what I wanted to adopt, I wanted to be like them, and I think I drive now in the way I imagine Senna would drive.
“That’s the only way I know. They were the best, what they did was the best, and I want to master it as well.”
READ MORE: Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton’s life outside F1 from net worth to family
During the 2024 Brazilian Grand Prix, Hamilton got to pay tribute to Senna by driving his 1990 McLaren at Interlagos.
He received a standing ovation around the track, with Brazilian fans considering Hamilton one of their own due to how he has always tried to honour Senna’s legacy.
| Driver | Races | Poles | F. Laps | Wins | Podiums | Points | Championships |
| Lewis Hamilton | 356 | 104 | 67 | 105 | 202 | 4862.5 | 7 |
| Michael Schumacher | 306 | 68 | 77 | 91 | 155 | 1566 | 7 |
| Ayrton Senna | 161 | 65 | 19 | 41 | 80 | 614 | 3 |
Even Neymar loved Hamilton’s Senna tribute such was the cultural impact his run in his car had.
Hamilton is also a strong admirer of Schumacher, who he replaced at Mercedes in 2013.
Mick Schumacher awarded Hamilton one of his father’s helmets when he matched his race-winning record in 2020.
When Hamilton broke Schumacher’s pole position record back in 2017m he said via Sky Sports: “Growing up, watching the sport, witnessing greatness in other individuals, such as Michael, dreaming of doing what he was doing
“ We are proof that dreams come true. I am very proud. It’s crazy.”
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