Hamilton ‘will match Schumi’

LEWIS HAMILTON will match Michael Schumacher’s record seven world championships before his Mercedes deal expires, Nigel Mansell has claimed with his fellow Briton standing on the brink of an historic title.

Hamilton, 33, requires just eight points more than Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel in the US Grand Prix tomorrow to wrap up the championship and join Juan Manuel Fangio on five title triumphs.

There are a number of permutations as to how the Mercedes star can get his championship over the line, but the simplest is this; if he wins in Austin, Texas and Vettel is third, the glory is his.

Mansell, the 1992 world champion, believes Schumacher’s record is now firmly in his countryman’s sights.

Hamilton will remain with Mercedes until at least the end of 2020 after signing a deal to become the sport’s first £40 million-a-season driver this year.

“Lewis is on a crest of a wave and I predict that within the next couple of years he will get his seventh world championship,” Mansell said. “The confidence of winning puts you on another level, and if he keeps his desire I can’t see anyone challenging him next season either.”

Hamilton started his quest for success with the fastest time in first practice. The Mercedes driver finished ahead of team-mate Valtteri Bottas in the wet running.