Schumacher’s F1 records still on another level to Hamilton – Wolff

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says Lewis Hamilton is on the path to match Michael Schumacher’s all-time Formula 1 records but feels the seven-time world champion’s feats remain on “a totally different level”.

After securing a record-breaking sixth British Grand Prix victory this weekend, Hamilton continues his gradual climb towards Schumacher’s all-time Grand Prix wins record. Having reached 80 career victories in F1, the Mercedes driver is now just 11 behind Schumacher’s overall record of 91 wins.

With Hamilton claiming 15 wins across the past 12 months alone, Mercedes boss Wolff feels Hamilton has the tools and support to match Schumacher’s records in F1 but says the German’s feats remain a unique part in the sport’s history.

“I think that if you are gifted in the way he is, and hard-working in the way he is, then you happen to join the team that is setting the benchmark then it gives you a good starting base to achieve successful results,” Wolff said about Hamilton’s achievements.

“But to achieve what Michael has achieved, which is the best so far, he is in a totally different level to what anybody else out there has done.

“It is a stretch and hard and I think, but he is on a good way and there are more victories and more championships to be won to match Michael.”

Hamilton extended his F1 world championship lead to 39 points over nearest rival Valtteri Bottas with victory at Silverstone as he moves closer to a sixth drivers’ crown, which would put him just one behind Schumacher and outright second on the all-time list – a place he currently shares with Juan Manuel Fangio.

The British driver already holds the all-time pole position record on 86, surpassing Schumacher’s record of 68 when he claimed pole at the 2017 Italian Grand Prix. Hamilton is also closing in on Schumacher’s podium record (155) after taking his 143^rd rostrum at Silverstone this weekend when he took the outright record for most wins at the British GP.