F1: Nigel Mansell says Lewis Hamilton crown "less credible"

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From GMM

Nigel Mansell , the 1992 world champion claims his championship success 17 years ago was more "credible" than the formula one crown of his young countryman Lewis Hamilton .

Mansell , 55, a winner of 31 grands prix, dominantly won the 1992 drivers' championship in a field including names like Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher.

The race grid also boasted 26 cars in 1992, moving Mansell to surmise that the challenge of winning in the modern era is not as great.

"No disrespect to Lewis but what's the point of a championship where you only have 18 or 20 cars running?" he is quoted as saying by The Sun .

"When I won the title, I beat 25 other cars. That makes Lewis' title 20 per cent less credible than mine," Mansell said. photo: WilliamsF1