F1 News
Hamilton is "rewriting history"
F1's managing director Ross Brawn says that Lewis Hamilton has been the key figure in Mercedes' six seasons of dominance as they secured a record sixth consecutive drivers' and constructors' double in Japan last weekend. Only Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas can win the drivers' title, and Mercedes have now eclipsed Ferrari's five doubles in a row in the early 2000s.
Hamilton has won four of the previous five titles, and is the overwhelming favourite to take a fifth this season, and his sixth in total. Nico Rosberg won the other in 2016.
Brawn was part of the Ferrari team that ruled F1 nearly two decades ago with Michael Schumacher at the wheel, but he believes Hamilton is changing the game forever.
He said in his Japanese GP review column: "Much of this success is down to Lewis Hamilton, an amazing driver who is rewriting the history of this sport in a manner all his own.
"It’s always difficult to establish how much is down to the car and how much to the driver, but in the end, for me, it’s the team that counts the most. Formula 1 is a team sport and even if the driver is the star of the show he cannot win without a team behind him.
"Mercedes has reached a higher level than its rivals and so far has been almost untouchable.
“However, without wishing to be the bearer of bad tidings, sooner or later the wind changes. It’s the law of the jungle in every sport. But no matter what may come, the achievements of the men and women of Brackley, Brixworth and Stuttgart will always be in the history books."