Did Lewis Hamilton ever race with Michael Schumacher?

Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton are widely regarded as two of the greatest drivers in motorsport history. They have achieved unparalleled success, holding the joint record for the most world championship wins in Formula One. Despite belonging to different eras, fans, and enthusiasts often drew comparisons between the two racing legends, thus pondering a question- Have they both ever raced each other in F1? 

The answer is affirmative; Schumacher and Hamilton have, in fact, raced against each other. However, these encounters were sporadic, occurring towards the end of Schumacher’s career and the beginning of Hamilton’s. The two champions did race against each other and shared the grid for 3 years before Schumacher announced his final retirement in 2012. Their first meeting on the race track was at the 2010 Bahrain Grand Prix. Schumacher had made a comeback to Formula One after a three-year hiatus, and Hamilton was driving for McLaren at that time. The race saw Hamilton finish third, with Schumacher coming in sixth.

Discover: How many F1 championships does Lewis Hamilton have?

Michael Schumacher’s F1 career before racing Hamilton

Michael Schumacher made his Formula One debut in 1991 as a substitute for an incarcerated Bertrand Gachot at Spa-Francorchamps, driving for Jordan. Despite being a newcomer, Schumacher showed impressive skill and secured a respectable seventh place in qualifying for his first race. Though he was unable to finish the race due to a mechanical issue, Schumacher’s debut turned heads in the paddock, and the Benetton team swiftly signed him for the 1992 season. Schumacher’s performance in his debut race signaled the beginning of a storied career that saw him go on to become one of the most successful drivers in the history of the sport.

Following his impressive debut in 1991, Michael Schumacher established himself as a dominant force in Formula One, winning back-to-back championships with Benetton in 1994 and 1995. In 1996, he moved to Ferrari, and after a few initial struggles, he and the team became synonymous with success in the sport. Schumacher went on to win an impressive five consecutive championships with the Italian squad. After dominating the sport for five years, Schumacher announced his initial retirement in 2006, bidding farewell to the sport he had so thoroughly dominated. His departure left a void that Ferrari filled with Kimi Raikkonen, who drove for the team during the 2007 season. He came back in 2010 with Mercedes before retiring in 2012. he was replaced by Hamilton.

Lewis Hamilton’s F1 career before racing Michael Schumacher

Lewis Hamilton made his Formula One debut in 2007 with McLaren, one year after Michael Schumacher’s initial retirement. Hamilton quickly made a name for himself, earning the distinction of being the best rookie the sport had ever seen. He was paired with reigning champion Fernando Alonso and proved to be a formidable competitor, ultimately finishing on equal points with Alonso. Despite narrowly missing out on the championship in his debut season, Hamilton came back with a vengeance the following year, engaging in a thrilling battle with Felippe Massa and ultimately emerging as the 2008 champion. Hamilton remained with McLaren for the next four years before eventually moving to his current team.

The 2009 season proved to be a challenging one for Lewis Hamilton, and he was unable to contend for the championship. Instead, the season was dominated by Brawn GP and their driver Jenson Button, who went on to win the title. Following their championship victory, Brawn GP was sold to the newly formed Mercedes team. Mercedes had been absent from Formula One for over 55 years and was eager to make a splash upon their return.

The team was looking to establish an all-German lineup, but with Sebastian Vettel already signed with Red Bull, they turned to retired German racing legend Michael Schumacher to lead the charge. Schumacher was paired with the young Nico Rosberg, creating a strong German duo on the track. During those four years, the Mercedes team had a lackluster performance and was often outshone by Red Bull and Sebastian Vettel, with the team finishing only fourth best. Despite this, they managed to secure a single-race win at the Chinese Grand Prix by Nico Rosberg. 

Lewis Hamilton Vs. Michael Schumacher: Haed to Head results

It was during this period that the two seven-time champions, Schumacher and Hamilton, had the opportunity to race against each other on a few occasions, including an epic battle at Monza in 2011. They both finished fourth and fifth in the race. The two came incredibly close to each other during the third practice of the 2012 Spanish GP. Additionally, there was a bit of a scuffle between the duo at the 2011 Japanese GP, where both drivers failed to start their final qualifying lap. Schumacher had returned to F1 for a second stint and was no longer at his peak, while Hamilton was a top contender for the championship during those years. Mercedes was a mid-field team with occasional surprises, while McLaren had two world champions fighting at the front. As a result, the two drivers shared less track space, but they did have some memorable moments.

Their battle at Monza in 2011 was later dubbed the “battle of legends” by fans and was a thrilling spectacle to watch. Hamilton himself described it as “fun” after the race. However, due to their differing pace, they didn’t have battles on track as regularly as fans might have hoped. Despite their infrequent battles on track, Schumacher and Hamilton still shared the grid for three years and maintained a mutual respect for one another. In 2012, Schumacher announced his second retirement from F1, paving the way for Hamilton to replace him at Mercedes for the 2013 season. Many fans believed this move was a misstep in Hamilton’s career and the end of his championship hopes. However, little did they know that Mercedes would go on to dominate the next era of F1, the V6 hybrid era, with Hamilton winning six championships with the team.

Lewis Hamilton’s battles on the track did not end with his time alongside Michael Schumacher. He also shared the grid with Mick Schumacher, the son of the German legend, for two years. In their race against each other in Austria last year, the two drivers engaged in a thrilling battle. While Mick had an average season with Haas and was eventually replaced by fellow German Nico Hulkenberg, he is now serving as a reserve driver for the Mercedes team, working alongside Hamilton for the 2023 season. Michael Schumacher held the record for most wins for 14 years, a feat that was broken by Lewis Hamilton in 2020. Hamilton went on to extend the record by winning ten more races, and he currently holds the record with 102 wins. Hamilton always maintained his respect for the German, though he often spoke of his admiration for Ayrton Senna, his childhood hero.

Hamilton and Schumacher shared the grid for a total of 59 races, with Hamilton winning ten of those and Schumacher managing only one podium at the 2012 European GP. Interestingly, Schumacher had originally intended to sub-in for an injured Felipe Massa in 2009 but was unable to do so due to a motorcycle accident. Schumacher had always maintained close ties with Mercedes, having raced for them in the 1991 World Sportscar Championship, and this is what drew him back to F1 in 2010. Hamilton is currently gunning to break the record and win his eighth championship with Mercedes. Although he went through a winless season last year, he is confident that he will come out on top once again. Meanwhile, Michael Schumacher suffered a serious accident during a skiing trip in the French Alps and has been in a medically-induced coma ever since.

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