SNOOKER
Super Stuart is feeling stunned
As the Stevenage speedster stands on the verge of history in Austin this evening, former F1 ace David Coulthard says he cannot predict how many records will fall before Hamilton calls it a day.
Victory in Texas will catapult the 33-year-old alongside Juan Manuel Fangio with five world titles to his name. Only Michael Schumacher, with seven, has won more.
The question on everyone’s lips is whether Hamilton – who only this summer signed an £80million deal for two more seasons with Mercedes – will fix the legendary German in his sights.
Coulthard (right) reckons no one can know. But he did give a hint as to Hamilton’s mindset when he said: “Lewis was signed up by Ron Dennis. Since then he’s won in every machine he has ever sat in. He is a serial winner.
“And although he has been in the sport since the year dot, he has managed to maintain his mojo, his passion across all these years.
“Some drivers head off into the party scene in New York. Others get their kicks hanging off a rope in the Rockies. Lewis has managed to carve out a niche for himself in Formula One. And he does it with Mercedes accepting him for what he is and what he likes doing away from the pressures of the pit and the track.
“All of the peripheral stuff, his press conferences, media appearances and sponsorship duties are contractual and carried out because they enable him to do what he still loves – being strapped into that car and going racing.
“And the minute that goes – and I speak from personal experience – the very minute he stops feeling that excitement will be the time when he bows out of the sport.
“It’s not the money, it’s not the adulation – he still loves F1.”
But will Hamilton overtake Schumacher?
Coulthard said: “Motor racing is an inexact science, so you cannot say Lewis is nailed on to beat the benchmark.
“There’s a lot of hard work still ahead of him – but there’s no doubt with each milestone he passes the legend becomes that bit bigger.”
Build up to the US GP on Channel 4 from 6pm and live coverage from 6.40pm 538 460 319 STUART BINGHAM admitted he was in shock after reaching today’s English Open final.
World No.15 Bingham will now face either Ronnie O’sullivan or Mark Davis for the title in Crawley after beating Scotland’s Stephen Maguire 6-3.
Bingham, 42, the 2015 world champion, said: “Unbelievable. I’m in shock really.”