SCHU IN FOR LEW KING LEWIS COULD CALL TIME

Hamilton on the brink of equalling legend’s title record after Imola win

Michael Schumacher’s record seven championships if he wins at the next race in Turkey a week on Sunday.

But after victory in Imola, Hamilton raised doubts over his next steps.

Asked about the future of Mercedes boss Toto Wolff,

Hamilton said: “I don’t even know if I’ll be here next year so it is not really a concern.”

“I feel great, but Toto mentioned about shelf life.

“I have been here a long, long time and I can understand him wanting to pull back a little bit and give more time to his family.”

IT WAS another history-making triumph for Lewis Hamilton as he put himself within touching distance of a record-equalling seventh world championship.

Seven days after passing Michael Schumacher’s record of 91 race victories, Hamilton delivered another crushing performance to edge closer to matching the German great’s tally of world titles.

And yesterday’s win in Imola, a circuit where his childhood hero Ayrton Senna tragically died 26 years ago, also bagged Mercedes their seventh consecutive constructors’ championship.

The Silver Arrows have now overseen the greatest period of dominance by any one team in F1 – and their superstar driver is also on the brink of extending his period of supremacy.

Hamilton can now match Schumacher’s record haul of seven world titles by winning the Turkish Grand Prix a week on Sunday.

The Briton is 85 points clear of teammate Valtteri Bottas with just four races left, meaning the Finn must outscore Hamilton by eight points in Istanbul to delay the coronation.

“It is very overwhelming right now,” said Hamilton. “I look at my crew and I know all the men and women here and in the factory and they are the unsung heroes.

“They are the ones that have continued to graft. People think we’re used to it but it always feels like the first because of the spirit of this team.

“Seven is unbelievable. While we have great performances it is not easy to continue to deliver. The guys are so precise in how they take the car apart and put it together weekend after weekend.

“Seven times champs – something to tell my grandchildren.”

He didn’t have it all his own way yesterday though as he dropped to third at the start after Red Bull’s Max Verstappen showed his pace with a mighty effort off the line.

Hamilton’s poor opening saw him adopt a different strategy to Bottas and Verstappen, and ultimately helped him assume control of the race after a number of stunning laps on ageing rubber.

The Briton stopped 11 laps later than Bottas and emerged in the th lead, with the V Virtual Safety Car – deployed when Renault’s Esteban Ocon broke down – helping his cause.

Verstappen’s late retirement a after mechanical f failure led to another o safety car w with 12 laps left.

But Hamilton kept his cool at the restart to seal the win (crossing the line, above) , whi le Bottas completed the one-two for F1’s all- conquering team.

The celebrations quickly got underway, as Hamilton and Co popped the champagne to mark yet another record.