Lewis Hamilton Pays Touching Tribute To ‘Legend’ Michael Schumacher

Lewis Hamilton has paid tribute to fellow seven-time F1 champion Michael Schumacher, describing him as a “legend” and a fundamental inspiration for aspiring racers. Hamilton’s tribute features as a foreword for the book “World Championship Cars – Michael Schumacher,” celebrating 30 years since Schumacher’s first F1 title victory.

Through this tribute, Hamilton not only reflects on the achievements of Schumacher but also touches on the values and personal qualities that defined the German racer.

The British driver wrote:

“Michael is among the legends in our sport. When you grow up with passion for motorsport, you always look up at specific people, and without doubt Michael was a role model for young drivers.

“His speed, his work morals, his determination and consistency – the length of his career and his top performance can only be admired.”

Hamilton also praises the life Schumacher has built with his wife, Corinna, characterizing their family’s humility and sincerity as core to Schumacher’s ethos. He continued:

“When it comes to Michael’s legacy, however, I focus on him as a person rather than a competitor. It’s not about titles or trophies, but about the family that he and Corinna created together.

“Their greatness, their humility and their sincerity say much more about Michael’s values than I ever could.”

The book celebrating Schumacher appears not only to honor his on-track legacy but to commemorate his influence beyond a racing helmet. It coincides with the 30th anniversary of Schumacher’s first championship after the intense 1994 season.

Schumacher’s legacy is sculpted not just by his seven championship titles but by his lasting influence on the sport. Recognized widely as the “German Sportsman of the Century,” Schumacher’s feats have set a template for success and commitment that many, including Hamilton, strive to emulate. Hamilton has been open with the influence Schumacher has had on his upcoming move to Ferrari in 2025.

Speaking to the media earlier in the year, Hamilton explained:

“I think for every driver, I think growing up, watching the history, watching Michael Schumacher in his prime, I think probably all of us sit in our garage and see the screen pop up, and you see the driver in the red cockpit, and you wonder what it might be like to be surrounded by the red.

“You go to the Italian Grand Prix, and you see the sea of red of Ferrari fans, and you can only stand in awe of that.

“It’s a team that’s not had huge success really since, mostly obviously from Michael’s days, but obviously since 2007, and I saw it as a huge challenge.

“Without a doubt, even as a kid, I used to play on Grand Prix 2 [a computer game] as Michael in that car.

“So it definitely is a dream, and I’m really, really excited about it.”