James Vowles: Lewis Hamilton More Skillful Than Michael Schumacher

Williams team principal James Vowles, formerly chief strategist at Mercedes, asserts that Lewis Hamilton possesses more natural skill than Michael Schumacher, despite both being seven-time World Champions.Vowles' insights highlight the distinct ways these legends achieved greatness, having worked closely with both drivers at Mercedes.### The details:* Schumacher's approach: Vowles noted Schumacher excelled at extracting every millisecond from himself and the team, though he wasn't considered the most 'skilful' in the car itself.* Hamilton's natural talent: Hamilton, conversely, has "oodles of natural talent," described as an "octopus all over the wheel" due to his constant adjustments and exploration of car settings. He's an "optimiser" with an exceptional feel for the car.* Intuition vs. data: Vowles cited an example from Brazil where Hamilton intuitively dropped to sixth gear to gain a tenth of a second uphill, despite simulation advising seventh. Nico Rosberg, by contrast, followed the simulation.* Boundary pushing: Hamilton's early career involved pushing braking limits, often going wide, but this exploration was crucial for learning.* Maturity: From 2013 onwards, Hamilton matured, completing laps while still gaining insights, refining his perfectionist approach to braking and car limits.Vowles acknowledges Hamilton's rapid car changes could sometimes challenge engineers. However, Hamilton's willingness to experiment and learn, even if it meant a session with a sub-optimal setup, ultimately made him a unique talent in Formula 1.