Brawn sees “no end" to Hamilton success

Ross Brawn has said he cannot see when Lewis Hamilton’s dominant form will end after the Briton matched Michael Schumacher’s record of seven world titles.

Brawn, who signed Hamilton to Mercedes when he was team boss in 2012 and was Ferrari team leader during Schumacher’s dominant years, said he felt “blessed” to have worked with both drivers.

Formula 1's managing director motorsports is fully expecting Hamilton to now go on and add further championships to his tally.

“He wins when he’s not given any opposition and he wins when he is given a big challenge," said Brawn, in his regular post-race column. "Right now, he’s at the pinnacle of his career.

“I don’t know where his form will start to tail off.”

Brawn left Mercedes the year before it began its dominant run of seven world titles, during which time Hamilton has added an astonishing 72 wins to the one he claimed while Brawn was still at the team.

The 35-year-old secured his seventh title in style at Istanbul Park, turning a disastrous weekend around to fight through in drying conditions, controlling his tyres perfectly to deliver a victory that surpassed many of his greatest wins.

“He showed [in Turkey] why he is such an exceptional talent,” added Brawn. “It was the perfect demonstration of what he is - a seven-time world champion, equalling Michael’s record."

There have been many comparisons made between Hamilton and Schumacher, but few are better placed than Brawn to explain what makes each unique.

Brawn was the technical director at Benetton when Schumacher won his first two titles then moved to Ferrari with him and chief designer Rory Byrne to team up with Jean Todt and establish an era of supremacy.

“It’s the kind of dominance that in most people’s motorsport career you only see once.," reflected Brawn. "I’ve been blessed to see it twice.

“It’s hard to pick a weakness in Lewis’ armoury. He sometimes seems to get emotional on the radio but the team know how to handle that through the calmness of his engineer Pete Bonnington.

"Bono doesn’t get fazed by anything Lewis says and has a great riposte when he gets too excited. Everyone in that team works so well together.

“Lewis is different from Michael in the way they approach things. At the core of it, they both have a God-given talent.”

Before you go...

Steiner not "completely mad" as slicks gamble a risk too far

FIA explain Verstappen penalty decision delay

Related

F1 Social

Hamilton set for shock F1 challenge after legendary return unveiled

• Yesterday 22:28

Lewis Hamilton

Ferrari chief admits Hamilton health doubts as update issued

• Yesterday 09:57