Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher are “very different” personalities whose approaches to Formula 1 are “not even close,” according to Jock Clear, a former race engineer for both drivers.
Two Champions, Different Styles
Clear worked with Schumacher at Mercedes between 2011 and 2012, before partnering with Hamilton from 2013 to 2014. Both drivers have won seven world titles, with Hamilton statistically ahead on race wins - 106 to Schumacher’s 91.
Speaking exclusively to Express Sport through betselect.co.uk, Clear said: “They are actually very different. If you draw a Venn diagram, I'm not even sure the two circles get close to each other, let alone overlap.
“And that's something I've found hugely helpful in my own education, because if you work with Michael, Nico and Seb, you might come to quite a narrow conclusion about what it takes to win World Championships. Then you have Lewis, and he shows you there isn't one way to do it.”
Emotional Contrasts
Clear explained that both champions focused on improving and winning, but their personalities differed sharply. He noted that Hamilton tends to “wear his heart on his sleeve in a way Michael didn't.”
Schumacher was often more reserved in TV interviews, in contrast to Hamilton. Last year, the British driver suggested Ferrari needed to “change driver” as he struggled to adapt to his new team during a difficult campaign.
Clear told Express Sport: “With Michael, I worked against him for 15 years and didn't really know what was going on inside him. With Lewis, you know when he's upset, you know when he's happy, you see the emotions.
“They come from different cultures and have very different personalities. What works for Lewis works for Lewis, and what worked for Michael worked for Michael. What they do share is an ability to bring a team along with them.
Legacy and Influence
“Michael understood how to build a team around him and create a culture that helped him succeed. Lewis demonstrated that he could do the same thing, but in his own way. There isn't one formula for becoming a seven-time world champion.”
Schumacher retired at the end of the 2012 season, while Hamilton continued winning titles at Mercedes until the 2022 regulation changes ended the team's dominance. Hamilton is now chasing an eighth world title at Ferrari and remains mathematically in contention this season, though he is extremely unlikely to catch Kimi Antonelli.
Clear joined Ferrari in 2015, worked with Charles Leclerc, and later took on a role overseeing the Scuderia’s Driver Academy. He says his time with both champions has shaped his coaching of the next generation.
He said: “When drivers tell me, 'I'm doing everything I can,' I take a step back and think, I've worked alongside Michael, I've worked alongside Lewis - trust me, mate, you are not doing everything you can.”
