GONE IS THE BRITISH DRIVER’S FLASHY, OVERBEARING STYLE OF YEARS GONE BY
he hustle to hail four times champion Lewis Hamilton as a Grand Prix driver of unique genius has reached almost overwhelming proportions with Formula One friends and foes alike only too eager to extol his combative virtues and winning ways.
As for the glowing centre of attention, the man himself, Hamilton has seemingly modified his flashy, outgoing and often overbearing style and tempered it with an admirable balance of irresistible reserve and modesty befitting a champion ripping up the record books without boastfulness as a companion.
What the reigning king has not uttered for himself has become a universally profuse reference in the admiration of others with no benefit to gain, or reputation to lose, in their open praise of the 32-year-old, raised off the back of his enormous skill and intent from humble, working-class home beginnings to a wealth and stature beyond dreams with worldwide recognition and earning a basic salary of £30 million (Dh146 million) a year — with an added £20 million in private sponsorships — and with more than £100 million already banked.
Many of the most respected names in a sport often guilty of being one-track-minded and not generally too generous in its appraisal of its headliners who earn fame and fortune for all the right reasons, have joined forces to highlight Hamilton’s world-beating gift of ability and attitude.
Not unnaturally at the forefront of the applauding assembly is Hamilton’s shamelessly admiring boss, Mercedes team manager Toto Wolff, who forecasts: “Sporting icons come and go and can polarise opinion not often being recognised until their careers are over.
“But here in Lewis we have a fine example of achievement based on ability. We have a fantastic sportsman and driver, one sure to stay and continue to get even stronger and better. This season has been the best I have seen from him since we first worked together in 2013.
“He is all set to break all the records that have been set by a glorious array of drivers over the years — and it is only a matter of time before I am joined by people who will support my belief that he is the best driver ever to exist. He stands out. He is remarkable.”
Wolff flicks the pages of the record books and notes with an indulgent smile: Hamilton’s first win was in Canada in 2007, his debut season, followed by triumphs in the USA, Hungary and Japan. In the ensuing 206 GPs he has amassed 62 victories, set a pole-placing record with 72 gridtoppers, clocked 38 fastest laps and been on the podium 116 times.
He has been the winner nine times in clinching his fourth world crown this season.
Bernie Ecclestone, the now ousted F1 mastermind, was instrumental is ensuring the full-ofpromise Hamilton was identified the length of pit lane as an extra-extra special driver with an appeal stretching outside the F1 circle. And he enthused this week: “Lewis is an absolutely outstanding talent. He is as good, if not better, than the host of great drivers there has ever been. Not only is he brilliantly gifted as a driver he is a good guy off the track, 100-per-cent — and a box office treasure. He is of priceless value to F1. And it will be that was for a good while to come.”
Terrific talent
Even deadly rival — and certainly no friend — Sebastian Vettel, who has flopped into second place in the title chase in the exhaust fumes of the runaway great Briton, has been moved to comment: “Lewis is a worthy champion. His fightback from when I was leading for the title has been amazing, a real and true reflection of his terrific talent and steeliness when the odds are against him.”
Nigel Mansell, the tough and heroic Brit who was world champion in 1992, and is now an F1 steward, echoed: “I agree with all that. Lewis is exceptional.”
And the much respected Niki Lauda, the usually reticent Austrian figurehead at Mercedes, said: “Lewis has done a fantastic job this year. He turned us around. We started with a difficult car and improved upon it with the valued help of Lewis’s immense talent and will to win.” The widely admired Hamilton fightback from early season car setbacks and his midseason position in the shadow of Vettel’s faultless — but with errors, heartbreak trouble and engineering setbacks to come — Ferrari was firing up a task of Mercedes and Hamilton retribution as finite one could imagine. A real tingler … a treat for the world of watchers.