LEW’STHE GREATEST

Brit hailed by rivals as he closes on record title

LEWIS HAMILTON will become Britain’s first four-time world champion – even if he finishes as low as fifth in tomorrow’s Mexican Grand Prix.

But he has already been installed as one of the all-time greats by some of the best drivers of the modern era.

A fourth crown will make him only the fifth man to do it after Michael Schumacher (7), Juan Manuel Fangio (5) and Alain Prost and Ferrari rival Sebastian Vettel on four.

Best

Hamilton’s Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said: “Lewis is about to break all records that have been set in F1, and it is just a matter of time that people will say he is on track to being the best driver ever.”

That view was endorsed by three of the men who have tried so often to beat him, fellow Brit Jenson Button, Brazilian ace Felipe Massa, and double world champion Fernando Alonso.

Former McLaren teammate and the 2009 title winner Button said: “He’s probably the most gifted driver that’s ever driven a Formula 1 car.”

Williams racer Massa added: “You cannot put him in a different level compared with Michael ® Schumacher and Ayrton Senna. He’s there.”

Even Alonso, who Hamilton spent an unhappy debut season alongside in 2007, said: “He’s a champion of our generation.

“Lewis was able to win with a dominant car, like the last three years, a good car like 2010 and 2012,