After Lewis Hamilton drew level with Michael Schumacher with seven Formula One drivers' champion titles in Turkey on Sunday, debate rages over which driver is the sport’s greatest of all time. While Hamilton sits joint-top and - Schumacher apart - way ahead of his racing predecessors, it is nigh on impossible to compare drivers from different eras.
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But with such a dramatic race where he looked down-and-out, Hamilton on Sunday not only hauled himself back into contention with the bravest of drives in horrendous conditions to pick up enough points to claim the title, he went on to win the Istanbul race, leaving everyone spinning in his wake (literally). To claim victory in such stunning fashion was the icing on the cake of a season where he has shown he truly deserves his place among some of the greatest names in the sport.
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Hamilton has been his ruthless best in a campaign that was disrupted by coronavirus, and his impressive stance against racism in the face of adversity only drew more admiration.
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Due to technological advancements and alterations in the teams, calendar, number of races, locations and track evolution, the debates over whom is the GOAT (greatest of all time) will continue - but no one can argue Hamilton is right in the mix at the top of that list now.
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In no particular order, here is our selection of the best of the rest over the years. Juan Manuel Fangio (1950-1958): World championships: 5. Race wins: 24. Pole positions: 29
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Jim Clark (1960-1968): World championships: 2. Race wins: 25. Pole positions: 33
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Jackie Stewart (1965-1973): World championships: 3. Race wins: 27. Pole positions: 17
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Niki Lauda (1971-1985): World championships: 3. Race wins: 25. Pole positions: 24
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Alain Prost (1980-1993): World championships: 4. Race wins: 51. Pole positions: 33
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Ayrton Senna (1984-1994): World championships: 3. Race wins: 41. Pole positions: 65
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Graham Hill (1958-1975): World championships: 2. Race wins: 14. Pole positions: 13
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James Hunt (1973-1979): World championships: 1. Race wins: 10. Pole positions: 14
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Michael Schumacher (1991-2012): World championships: 7. Race wins: 91. Pole positions: 68
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Lewis Hamilton (2007-present): World championships: 7. Race wins: 94 Pole positions: 97
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It's not the first time Hamilton has won in Turkey. He triumphed 10 years ago with McLaren as he began to build a legacy like no other.
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One decade on, same result in Istanbul. With Hamilton committed to continuing with the dominant Mercedes next season, it is quite possible that the Briton - who could easily race on for another five years at least - could take the records into untouchable and astronomical realms. Greatest of All Time (?) with more to come.
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