Nobody can knock Lewis off his perch
PROST BACKS HAMILTON TO REIGN AGAIN AND ROAR TO EIGHTH TITLE
ALAIN PROST believes Lewis Hamilton will be world champion this year and next to become the most decorated F1 driver of all time.
Hamilton is continuing to rewrite the history books, eclipsing Michael Schumacher’s all-time podium tally with a 156th visit to a grand prix rostrum in Spain on Sunday.
The 35-year-old Briton is now three shy of Schumacher’s record of 91 wins and remains firmly on course to match the German’s tally of seven world titles this year.
Hamilton also secured the 92nd pole of his career at the Circuit de Catalunya, 24 more than Schumacher managed.
Prost, who won the title four times, said: “The way Lewis is driving, the confidence he has in his Mercedes team, and the fact the regulations are going to change little in 2021, gives him a very good chance to be world champion this year and next. I cannot see anybody beating him.”
Schumacher was dominant at the turn of the century as he lifted five consecutive titles with Ferrari.
Hamilton, who is 37 points clear of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, is poised to claim his sixth crown in seven years.
The only driver to beat him in that period is Nico Rosberg, but Hamilton has the measure of Valtteri Bottas, who replaced his great rival at Mercedes in 2017. “It is unbelievable what Lewis has done,” said Prost, 65. “But you can only do that if you have a long domination and a long-term commitment with a team. “When Michael did it we all thought it would not be possible to beat his records because of how modern Formula One is.
“But we now have a period of domination with Lewis and Mercedes. You can compare the dominance of Ferrari and Michael and Mercedes and Lewis because it is basically the same story. “You have a perfect organisation with key people in the team and a No 1 and a No 2 driver. Psychologically, you have a very stable situation which puts you in a very strong position. “Sometimes people don’t realise what Lewis is doing because he has produced some exceptional laps. “But he can only do that because he is comfortable in the team, confident with the team, and that can help you find the last tenths of a second.”