David Coulthard explains why Ayrton Senna is above Michael Schumacher in his personal F1 rankings

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Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher often go head-to-head in the Formula 1 ‘GOAT’ debate, and David Coulthard has had his say on why the former ranks higher than the latter.

Joining the sport in 1991, Michael Schumacher was able to race against his idol of Ayrton Senna for a couple of years before the Brazilian legend’s untimely death during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.

Senna would be in disbelief of Schumacher’s pace, often shaking his head upon seeing the times that the German driver would set during qualifying.

The three-time world champion would then regularly go on to beat Schumacher, adding to the enigma that surrounded him during his career.

However, Schumacher’s ambition would also rub Senna the wrong way at times. Driving under Ross Brawn for Benetton at the time, the German’s aggressive racecraft would often ‘upset’ the McLaren star, causing some friction between the two drivers.

• READ MORE: Michael Schumacher thought one thing as F1 icon ‘didn’t believe’ Ayrton Senna died at Imola

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David Coulthard explains why Ayrton Senna beats Michael Schumacher in his own F1 driver rankings

During a recent appearance on the Red Flags podcast, former F1 driver David Coulthard was asked to rank a multitude of Formula 1 world champions before settling on the name of the driver who he thinks stands above them all.

Difficult choices had to be made, and in the semi-final of the bracket, Senna was pitted against Schumacher.

Coulthard voiced his opinion on the match-up, saying, “In terms of the championships, and the machine, you would go with Schumacher.

Again, I totally respect all of these guys, who were way beyond my capabilities. I think it feels like Senna went up against teammates that he didn’t care who the teammate was. Whereas it’s my belief, based on what I was offered, that there was a lot of support system around Schumacher as the number one.

“That does not take anything away from him as a driver and actually just shows that, well, if you can negotiate it, why wouldn’t you?

“But if I look at what drove me to want to be in Formula 1, it was because I wanted to race at the highest level against the best drivers that had made it or were available at that time, and find out where I ranked.

“So it wasn’t just that I wanted to win. Of course you want to win, but the whole reason of competition is to go toe to toe on the racetrack. One of us will do a better job on that day, and then it’s like, ‘Oh, okay. Well done. You did a better job,’ or I would expect you to say well done if I were you.

“That’s what competition and sport are, it’s racing respect. So with all of that little monologue. Yes, I have to go with Senna.”

• READ MORE: Martin Brundle’s verdict on who had more talent between Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna after competing against both

Michael Schumacher thought Ayrton Senna was the fastest driver ever to compete in Formula 1

Coulthard’s verdict has previously had some validation from one of the drivers in question.

After beating Senna’s championship count at the end of the 2001 F1 season, Schumacher stated that Senna was the fastest driver ever after a journalist omitted the Brazilian’s name in a question regarding his own driver rankings.

He went on to add his doubts that his 1994 championship battle with Damon Hill would have been made a lot more difficult if Senna’s career hadn’t been cut short by the events that took place earlier in the season at Imola.

Schumacher concluded the interview by saying that he doesn’t like to think about it, due to the fact that he will never know the answer to it.