F1 champ details difference between Hamilton and Schumacher

Former F1 world champion Nico Rosberg has detailed what he believes to be the key differences between seven-time champions Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher.

Uniquely placed to assess two of the greatest drivers in the sport's history, Rosberg was Schumacher's teammate during his F1 comeback with Mercedes before battling Hamilton from 2013 onwards.

OUCH: Supercars rivals mock James Courtney over photos with girlfriend

'ISN'T TRUE': Lewis Hamilton's public denial of ugly Mercedes claims

Rosberg is the only driver to beat Hamilton to the drivers championship during the sport's turbo hybrid power era, reigning supreme in 2016 after a hard-fought and at time bitter battle against his longtime rival.

Hamilton went on to match Schumacher's seven world titles following Rosberg's retirement from F1 after his 2016 championship win, have already surpassed many of Schumacher's other records in the sport.

Despite the pair boasting similar levels of dominance throughout their F1 peak, Rosberg believes there is a clear delineation of style between the British and German drivers.

For Rosberg, Hamilton's skill stands out, while Schumacher's more methodical approach set him apart.

“Talent-wise, [Hamilton] probably has to be the best of all time,” Rosberg said.

“And he really builds on that, that instinct is phenomenal with him... Lewis deserves [the record] too and if he manages to do that, then good.

"I see it more and more as, ‘He was really damn fast, and I can be all the more proud that I beat him [in 2016] with the same car back then.”

Hamilton's raw skill was a neat juxtaposition to Schumacher's approach, Rosberg said.

Where Hamilton could rely on his racing skill and instinct to extract the maximum pace from his car, Rosberg said Schumacher's ruthless attention to detail was uncommon.

“A big difference is diligence,” he said.

“Lewis hates test drives. He doesn’t like test drives. And Michael, he would drive tests every day, even though he is a seven-time world champion.

"But because he also knows that you can always learn a little bit there.

“He motivates the whole team and gets them behind him, knows all the names, invites them to his house for bike rides and so on, even though he is a seven-time world champion and has 800 million in his bank account or something.”

Lewis Hamilton backed to win 120 grands prix

Formula One motorsport executive Ross Brawn has backed Hamilton to reach 120 victories after the British star brought up his century in Russia.

The seven-time world champion took advantage of a dramatic rain-hit conclusion to the race at Sochi's Olympic Park to record the landmark haul and assume control of his title battle with Max Verstappen - however the Dutchman soon seized it back at the subsequent Turkish GP.

Hamilton, 36, levelled Michael Schumacher's tally of 91 victories last October, and a year on has moved nine ahead of the German driver.

Hamilton put pen-to-paper on a two-year contract extension earlier this season - and Brawn, who was integral in persuading him to leave McLaren for Mercedes - has predicted he could push the record out of sight.

"One hundred is a milestone no one thought anyone would ever reach," said Brawn, technical director of Ferrari when Schumacher dominated the sport at the turn of the century.

"Michael's tally of 91 was so far ahead of what anyone else had ever done at that point that it never seemed conceivable that anyone would get near it.

"But then Lewis beat it - and now Lewis has 100 wins. There is nothing stopping him.

"Who knows where it's going to end up? I don't think we could predict 200 wins, but I think we could certainly predict 20 more as he's still massively competitive and motivated.

"It's just staggering as it's a centenary that no-one ever thought would be achieved."

With AAP

Click here to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest and breaking stories from Australia and around the world.