WHAT SCHUMACHER SAYS...................
There isn't much more I can say that hasn't already been said. In fact, I think this forum needs to hear from the mouth of Michael Schumacher more than anything else. If anyone in this forum respects Michael Schumacher (even Ayrton fans should do that) then perhaps there is no more reason for debate... if we just respect what HE says.
(1994 Schumacher wins Championship that year) "...Winning the championship feels like a dream. I don't know how to explain it. The emotions are in me but I cannot really express them. Early in the season it had been clear to me that I was not going to win the championship, that it was going to be Ayrton. But he hasn't been here for these last races..." (he died in May that year) "...and so I would like to take this championship and give it to him. It was difficult at the time to show my feelings because I am not someone who likes to show his feelings on the outside, but I always thought about it..." what was he thinking about all year? He himself tells us now "...And now is the right time to give something which I achieved, something which he should have achieved, to him...". -- (The Life of Senna, Tom Rubython, 2004, pp. 496)
So clearly and without a shadow of a doubt, Schumacher acknowledges that Head-to-Head he would not have won the Championship that year had he had to continue racing Senna. This is all we'll ever know. If you have any problems with this please, take it up with Schumacher - I just quoted him. And please, don't speak on behalf of Schumacher (don't add interpretation/your opinion (that's the reason the debate doesn't stop!))
...truth belongeth to him that understandeth it..." :cool: - Isaac - Australia

It's easy for us armchair enthusiasts to debate this issue, armed with (from what I've seen and read) statistics and facts that are often incorrect. The people in the best position to decide who's better or worse are those that have worked with the two drivers. Even then, it's only their personal opinions, but at least they have a more solid foundation on which to form that opinion.
'F1 Racing' Magazine polls of people in the F1 business (team managers, engineers, drivers past and present, journalists, etc) show that it is widespread belief that Senna was the greatest driver of all time.
Martin Brundle once wrote an article for 'F1 Racing' comparing Schumacher and Hakkinen. When asked who (Schumacher or Hakkinen) is better, his reply was, "Of all the drivers I have raced against, the best was Senna. By far."
Who does Prost think is better? Who does Berger think is better? People can go on all day about the figures, but what they never show is the manner in which they were achieved. These people knew the two drivers in question, and how they operate(d).
Also, I find it incredible that some fans are blinded by the passion with which they support their favourite driver. There is nothing wrong with cheering for your man, but to totally disregard the achievements of a three-time world champion is beyond pathetic. Yes, Michael M from the USA, I'm referring to you. You wrote that you found Senna "rash and absolutely rubbish as a Formula 1 driver." Grow up, and grow a brain while you're at it. Honda setting up the car to Senna's liking? When? How do you know? Like I said, you can support your favourite driver, but at least give acknowledgement and respect where these are due. Sounds like your labelling the Brazilian as "rubbish" is out of a fear and denial of what you know to be true... Dave - Australia

Schumi is nowadays the best driver in the world not only by himself but also because Ferrari has by far the best car. Its kind of annoying ONLY Schumi and Ferrari to win. Personally I support Ferrari and I like Schumi's driving because its fast. Someone said that Schumi passed Senna. The last time when this occurred was back in 1994 at Tamb Turn, Imola. Senna was very fast, the fastest of all the aces of the time. In fact he had more talent in a period of time that MANY drivers were competitive and also more teams. Senna was a talent Schumi SAID IF YOU RECALL �SENNA WAS GOD� Whatever we say is less important because Senna Didn't die..Senna was killed. The only way that the fellow German will be as equal to him is to (I am sorry) die/be killed. Only the young and talented gain immortality.
Who talks about Mika anymore? Nobody he relaxes with his family. I miss the yellow helmet Miss a nice race .. Or I just cannot replace Senna. Ayrton Senna from Brasil all the way to a heart in Athens Greece - Spyros - Greece

After reading the interesting comments for the last hour, it's hard to not to agree that Schumacher has a lot of fans out there who think he is the best. Even I became hooked and rated him to be the best of all time. I mean the guy did win seven world titles (five in a row). However, ten years is a long time and only after reading "The Life of Senna" (strongly recommend to everyone) that I refreshed my memory of how truly great he was from day one. Senna's F1 career spaned only 10 years compared to Schumachers 14. So here is my opinion. Despite not finishing the first three races in 94, (but got all three poles), Senna would have still won the title. How? Wasn't Hill only 1 point behind Schuy at the end of the year! If Senna lived, Schuys 92 points would have been halved. The year after (95) is anybody's game as Schuy was dominant. However, Williams won both 96 and 97 titles, and if Senna was alive, would Hill and Villeneuve have won it? I don't think so! So let's see: 88,90,91,94,(Maybe 95),96,97. That makes it 6 or 7 world titles to Ayrton, none to Michael. Forgot to mention that Senna planned to retire near 2000. It's sad he had to die so young! - Robert - Serbia

Well I am a fan of the speed and whatever a motor is in a competition but this time we are talking about professional people and I rate Ayrton Senna more than Schumacher because he's still one of the greatest person I ever hear about, also for his so natural way to race, and being hungry to become the champion of every season, I am sure that if he still would be here alive, he would continue winning and making a lot of people more happy and interest in F1 Races, cause he is the best of the best in Formula one, like in every sport there is some one supernatural doing what they like. Example (Michael Jordan) even Magic Johnson could beat him. So no way to think that Schumacher is gonna do it to Senna - Alberto A - Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo. Mexico

I am a fan of M Schumacher but I think that Senna and Schumacher cannot be compared because they didn't live a real challenge when both were strong. in the beginning of the 90's Schumacher was young and wasn't as strong as he's now. In 1992 he was 3rd and Senna was 4th - Rudy - France

ON THE TRACK Please remember that Schumacher DID BEAT SENNA before his tragic death at Imola. Portugal, Spa etc.. and he was much younger and less experienced than Senna at the time.
ON RECORD Schumi holds them all (almost)
TEAM CONTRIBUTION Schumi holds a Mechanical engineering degree. He knows how to set a car up optimally and motivate a team
SCHUMI 3, SENNA 0 - Randolph F - UK

Any level rated driver can win titles in a super quick car. Schumacher wins because he is given the best car. simple as! its the same with Villeneuve, Hill, and Piquet (plus a lot more). Senna won with the odds against him! he along side Fangio are the greatest ever! - Paul A - UK

Senna was much better than Schumacher, not just as a racer, but as a person too - Austin - England

Schumacher is the best human driver. Senna was a God! - Georgios - Greece

Maybe some of you are correct in saying Schu and Senna can not be compared, but Formula One is the peak of motor sport, 22 of the best drivers in the world (there has always been pay drivers). It doesn't matter which era you're in. You can view it as you may. Both stand out for their dedication. After china the only race drivers to test here in Spain were the Schumie brothers, the others stayed in Asia. Senna was the same.
People mention Donington as his best race. Schumacher has performed as good or better in the same conditions (remember Senna's ford wasn't a works engine, less power is easier to control in the wet, and it was probably the best chassis out there too, just underpowered in the dry, so this race will stick out). I guess results speak for themselves, these are the best drivers in the world and it doesn't matter which era - Greg - Spain

My English is very, very bad. But I will tell you something. I think that Ayrton Senna was the best driver the world has ever seen. He was the fastest driver, i am absolutely sure in that. The question is: was he the best of all time? Some people would say that Senna was unfair in 1990, that he drove too risky, that in 1988 Prost had more points then Senna. But they are not right.
In 1988 the rule was 11 best places.
In 1989 on video you can see that Prost went into Senna (Suzuka)
In 1990 Senna had a pole position. Because of that Balestre decided to change the side of a grid positions, the pole was on a dirty side. And senna was furious because of that, and that is why he collided with Prost.
In 1993. Senna drove with McLaren-Ford. Schumacher was in Benetton-Ford. Only the teams were different, but they had the same engines. In that year Senna was much better than Schumacher. (ex. Interlagos-wet, Donington-wet, Monaco-dry, Suzuka-wet, Adelaide-dry )
In 1994. Williams was a very sick car in first 4 or 5 races. But remember that Senna had poles in Interlagos, in Japan, in Imola. But the best way to show people that senna was the best of the best, is to look Donington park 1993. Senna started as 4-th.The line up was: 1. Prost (four times world champion) 2. Hill (once world champion) 3. Schumacher (7 times world champion). At the end of the first lap Senna was first in wet conditions. At the end of the race only Hill was on the same lap with Ayrton, some 1 min and about 20 sec. behind.
That is why I think that Senna was best of the best - Petar - Serbia

Ayrton Senna was very very very very very very very very very very very very good, but Michael Schumacher is better than him. Period. I quote from a note I've read just here.
Also, we must take a look at race conditions. In the time where Senna, Prost, Mansell raced, I know there weren't as much electronic facilities as today (electronic gearbox, speed limiter, suspension hardener...), but also, the cars were not as responsive as today's. So, we cannot compare them at the same level. Since the acceleration in a contemporary F1 is much quicker, the pilots got to time every following turn. But also, and perhaps the most significant part, is how Schumacher lifted the whole team. Comparing with Senna, Senna just arrived in a top team, where Prost initially commanded. And Ferrari was trying hard with Berger, but with significant motor failures, unreliability, etc... Also, in these times, Prost pushed hard Senna in an almost "unfriendly" partnership in McLaren, winning alternatively each year championships. In contrast, Schumacher got 1st with the Jordan team, he only got to race 1 time (3rd place), when Benetton approached and hired him. There, in the next 2 years, he won both championships... But like any good racer, he got hired by the Scuderia. He dramatically lifted Ferrari back to its dominant position. And, what the... You only have got to see the facts: Championships: 7 Pole positions: 62 (just 3 behind Senna)
SCHUMACHER KAISER IS THE BEST - Chris - Mexico

Debates like this are totally sterile. Similar debates have infected motor sport for years and never prove a thing.
The first one I remember (about bikes) was "Was Mike Hailwood as good or better than Geoff Duke" answer who knows, different times, different technology, different rules etc. Same as comparing Schumacher with Fangio - no-one will ever know.
All you can say, is they were THE BEST in their time - Peter K - UK

Senna is a legend and had more competition than Schumacher. Senna had Mansell, Prost and Piquet. Schumacher has Montoya, Coultard (not a threat) and Barrichello. I would also say Button but he is no threat at BAR - Harry W - England