Hamilton on cusp of greatness

Lewis Hamilton cannot help it. Formula One is in danger of becoming boring because the rest of the competition can’t keep up.

The Mercedes driver seems to get better year on year while the rest of the paddock stagnates. On Monday at the Austrian Grand Prix, Hamilton will chase his 80th race win, which would leave him only 11 behind Michael Schumacher’s record.

And a sixth world title already seems inevitable which would move Hamilton to within one of the German’s best mark.

‘‘One day he’s going to stop his career, with multiple records, and people will say he was the greatest driver on the planet and we were witnesses of that journey,’’ Mercedes team chief Toto Wolff said at the French Grand Prix, won by Hamilton, last week.

Wolff added Hamilton’s interests off track, such as fashion and music, made him all the more remarkable.

He said the 34-year-old driver did not get the praise he deserved, but ‘‘for whatever reason there is this idea of hitting out’’ against him as ‘‘maybe it sells more newspapers, or gives more clicks’’.

Hamilton has been in focus since his entry into F1 around 12 years ago. He was the first black driver in the elite level of the sport with a backstory made for cinema – his father took a second job in order to support him as a junior.

After narrowly missing the world title in his debut season, the triumph was secured – on the last lap of the last race – in his second year.

Further success remained elusive until the move from McLaren to Mercedes in 2013.

Hamilton has delivered 58 race wins for Mercedes and there were 21 victories for McLaren in the previous six years.