Five-star Hamilton cements his status in pantheon of all-time greats

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  • In a life where they say anything is possible with hard work and a bit of luck, Lewis Hamilton has cemented his status as one of the greatest drivers of all time after clinching his fifth world title at the Mexican Grand Prix on Sunday.

    From a small council house in Stevenage to a fortune worth more £170 million is a leap beyond imagination and even the Briton has to pinch himself at times to realise how far life has taken him.

    The Mercedes driver is now level with the legendary Juan Manuel Fangio on championship wins. Only Michael Schumacher with seven crowns is a cut above.

    And with two years remaining on his current Mercedes contract, the 33-year-old’s chances of matching the legendary German remains all the more possible after his latest triumph.

    But aside from the world championship victories, Hamilton has already surpassed the German’s previous pole record of 68, with 81 to his name – but is still 19 race wins behind Schumacher who leads the way on a stunning 91. However, if Mercedes continues its domination, Hamilton could well reach that feat by the age of 35.

    Whereas some sports stars desire fades after continued success, the imperious Hamilton appears to have become stronger with every passing season.

    Each era of sport will have different heroes and legends, but Hamilton has proven time and again his ability to drive to the maximum potential and eek every millisecond out of a track when it really counts.

    In the 18 races so far this campaign, the Stevenage native has stormed to pole position on nine occasions and looks a genuine cut above the rest of the field when it comes to pace and precision over one lap.

    Of course there is more to greatness than just numbers. In the racing world, greatness means love from the fans.

    Ayrton Senna was a three-time champion and adored by the entire Formula One public. Not just because he was ridiculously skilled behind the wheel, but because of the way he carried himself on and off the track.

    While no other driver has tasted as much success as Schumacher, he was never liked the way Senna was.

    The same goes for Hamilton. Perhaps one of the most significant problems with the Brit is people’s perception of him.

    He rubs shoulders with superstar athletes and musicians, attends fashion events and has a clear addiction to social media. But for all the criticism he faces, he still backs it up with titanic performances on race day.

    In the build up to Singapore Grand Prix last month, he was heavily criticised for his 25,000 air miles clocked in the days before the race, flying to Shanghai and New York for the launch of his fashion collaboration with Tommy Hilfiger.

    Many thought the gruelling schedule, coupled with the jet lag, would impact negatively on his displays at Marina Bay Street Circuit. Once again, he proved the doubters wrong with a sizzling victory to stretch the gap in the championship race to 40 points.

    For all the negativity, maybe it’s his interests off the track that have made him a more formidable driver over the years. While others on the grid are immersed solely in F1, Hamilton has fashion, music and his sponsorship commitments to focus on and take his mind off the pressures of life on the track.

    At the end of the day, not everyone is going to like you no matter who you are. Hamilton is a human being before a sports star and should be judged solely on his results and his performances, instead of his endeavors and interests away from it.

    Still, enthusiasts of the sport are lucky to be able to watch such a stellar British talent excel on the world stage. Maybe it’s only going to be something we realise once he does retire.

    His latest world championship triumph caps off another remarkable season, but one that disappoints in some aspects with title rival Vettel unable to maintain any form of momentum in the championship race.

    If Vettel is to prevent Hamilton’s march to matching Schumacher’s record over the next two seasons, he will have to erase the inconsistencies which have plagued his previous two campaigns.

    He has the pacey car, the skill, the confidence and the experience of winning four world titles, but he was a clear fading force again for the second half of the season, and needs to cut out errors on the track if he is to stand any chance of making the title race competitive in 2019.

    Whatever happens between now and the end of Hamilton’s contract in two years, nobody would deny him a place among the Pantheon of all-time greats.

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