Hamilton tipped to top his century of victories

Formula One motorsport executive Ross Brawn has backed Lewis Hamilton to reach 120 wins after the British star achieved his century in Russia.

The seven-time world champion took advantage of a dramatic rain-hit conclusion to Sunday’s race at Sochi’s Olympic Park to record the landmark haul and assume control of his title battle with Max Verstappen.

Hamilton, 36, levelled Michael Schumacher’s tally of 91 victories last October, and a year on has moved nine ahead of the great German driver.

Hamilton put pen to paper on a two-year contract extension earlier this season – and Brawn, who was integral in persuading him to leave McLaren for Mercedes – has predicted he could now pass the combined totals of Alain Prost (51), Ayrton Senna (41) and Sir Jackie Stewart (27).

“One hundred is a milestone no one thought anyone would ever reach,” said Brawn, who was the technical director of Ferrari when Schumacher dominated the sport at the turn of the century.

“Michael’s tally of 91 was so far ahead of what anyone else had ever done at that point it never seemed conceivable that anyone would get near it.

“But then Lewis beat it – and now Lewis has 100 wins. There is nothing stopping him.

“Who knows where it’s going to end up? I don’t think we could predict 200 wins, but I think we could certainly predict 20 more as he’s still massively competitive and motivated.

“It’s just staggering, as it’s a century that no one ever thought would be achieved.”

Hamilton will now head to the 16th round of a scheduled 22 in Turkey a week on Sunday holding a two-point advantage over Verstappen in his quest for a record-breaking eighth crown.

Lewis Hamilton after winning in Russia for Mercedes.