Lewis deserves more credit. He is one of the greatest-ever drivers in F1

LEWIS HAMILTON still does not get the credit he deserves as one of the all-time Formula One greats.

That’s the verdict of former world champion Damon Hill.

British ace Hill arrived on the F1 scene in the early 1990s, when it was dominated by the late, great Ayrton Senna, and then memorably beat Michael Schumacher to secure his one and only title triumph in 1996 (below).

Schumacher currently holds the record with seven world championships. But five-time champ Hamilton has every chance of passing the German legend and comfortably leads this season’s title race by 31 points.

But his fellow Brit believes the 34-year-old Mercedes star is still criminally underrated, despite going for a record-breaking sixth British Grand Prix victory at Silverstone tomorrow.

“His speed is undeniable. It’s up there with Schumacher, Senna and Jim Clark,” said Hill.

“The way he has negotiated his life within Formula One has been exceptional.

“It will crush you otherwise. It will take every last ounce of energy you have, but I think he has managed his energy brilliantly.

“He’s got time to go off and do his recreational things, but that’s how he recharges his batteries. And if he had notdone that, he would be doing promotional events for sponsors and wouldn’t have any energy left. He is underappreciated – and I would say underacknowledged, as to where he stands in the pantheon. He has perhaps slipped under the radar. “Motorsport is also a niche thing, compared to football. Motor racing and Formula One is still not for everyone. It’s perhaps not helped by the fact that it appears to be full of glitz and glamour, which it is. Lewis is a racing driver and what he does in the car – it’s exceptional. It doesn’t take a genius to tell you that he has won a lot and he will win a lot more. The records speak for themselves.”

Hamilton already boasts several records, including the most pole positions (86), and he is just 12 victories shy of matching Schumacher’s so far unprecedented achievement of 91 Grand Prix wins – something he could even achieve this season.

But it is his exploits away from the track that tend to cause most debate and criticism. His lavish lifestyle isn’t to everyone’s taste and he also recently launched his own fashion collection with Tommy Hilfiger.

“Like a lot of sports stars these days, he has expressed himself in other ways, including his own fashion range,” said Hill. “These are perhaps things motorsport fans don’t want to follow.”

Hamilton has made a habit of silencing his critics ever since he exploded on the scene 12 years ago, narrowly missing out on a remarkable debut title by just one point. He has once again carried