Toto tips Lewis to be the greatest of all time
LEWIS Hamilton is on course to become the greatest Formula One driver of all time, says Mercedes boss Toto Wolff.
Hamilton, who holds a 66-point lead over Sebastian Vettel with three rounds remaining, will earn another shot at world championship glory in Mexico City on Sunday.
After storming to victory in the United States, Hamilton needs only to finish fifth to become the first British driver to surpass Sir Jackie Stewart and claim four F1 championships.
The Englishman, 32, has been in sensational form of late, winning five of the six races since the summer break, and surpassing Michael Schumacher’s pole position record at the Italian Grand Prix in September.
A fourth championship would still leave Hamilton some distance off Schumacher’s record haul of seven titles, but Wolff believes his star man warrants greater recognition for his already remarkable career.
“Lewis is about to break all records that have been set in Formula One, and it is just a matter of time that people will say he is on track to being the best driver that has ever existed,” Wolff said.
“The high performers often polarise because they have strong opinions and they express those. You don’t want to be down the middle and boring, and today if you polarise you stand out. Lewis stands out.
“Those sport icons that polarise eventually get the credit, but maybe after their career ends. This is the best Lewis – both on and off the track – that I have worked with since 2013.”
Following his victory in Austin last Sunday, Hamilton attributed his impressive form to Nico Rosberg’s departure from Mercedes. Hamilton’s rivalry with Rosberg became so toxic in the three years they fought for the championship that they could not even exchange pleasantries.
Wolff admits a sense of regret over Hamilton’s hostile relationship with Rosberg, but agreed the German’s sudden retirement was a blessing in disguise.
“All things happen for a reason,” said Wolff, whose Mercedes team won their fourth consecutive constructors’ championship on Sunday.
“So, looking back at the season and the structure we now have with Lewis and Valtteri Bottas, then yes.”