Alex Zanardi has added his voice to the Michael Schumacher debate, claiming that the German is a unique talent. Zanardi believes that Schumacher's unquenchable thirst for success has set him apart from the rest, and enabled him to take a record sixth world title.

"He is a man with qualities that many others don't have. His strength comes from his ability to combine the enthusiasm of a beginner who needs to prove himself, with the talent and the experience of a confirmed champion," said Zanardi.

The former Williams Formula One driver and double CART world series champion believes that Schumacher fulfils his definition of greatness.

"The difference between a good driver and a great champion is that a good driver sometimes needs to consult the text book of how to drive perfectly, while a great one wrote the book, and so doesn't need to read it!" claimed the Italian.

"Very often there are situations when a driver has few thousandths of a second to take a decision and the great driver is the guy who is able to take the right decision instantly."

While Schumacher may be the best, Zanardi's personal favourite was the flamboyant Briton Nigel Mansell.

"I think Nigel Mansell had something different. He was a huge exhibitionist, like I have been in some moments of my career. He was a man who never gave up, who never waved the white flag.

"Conversely, difficulties only motivated him further to recover and challenge for races that were already lost. It's because of that he left his signature on some of the best pages in the history of motorsport."