Fellow drivers lavish praise on Hamilton

After surging clear of Sebastian Vettel in the title race, Hamilton is poised to secure his fourth world championship this weekend at the Mexican GP - a feat which, if and when completed, will make him the most successful British driver in Formula 1 and only the fifth in the sport’s history to claim a fourth title. 

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said this week: “Lewis is about to break all records that have been set in Formula 1, and it is just a matter of time that people will say he is on track to being the best driver that has ever existed.” Hamilton’s former McLaren team-mate Jenson Button, the 2009 world champion, added: “He’s probably the most gifted driver that’s ever driven a Formula 1 car.” 

In the ultra-competitive world of F1, it is rare for any driver to offer words of acknowledgment, let alone praise, for one of his peers. But ahead of his home race, Force India’s Sergio Perez admitted he believed Hamilton was without equal in the field. “Lewis is the best driver on the grid. 

Lewis is something special,” Perez, who replaced Hamilton at McLaren when he departed for Mercedes, said. Felipe Massa went further, placing Hamilton alongside two of the sport’s most legendary figures