Whether you are a fan of Lewis Hamilton or not, you have to respect his talent and achievements in Formula One. Winning five titles and 71 races is not a fluke, and his team boss has spoken out about how Hamilton does not receive the support and respect his success deserves.
Hamilton is not one of the most popular members of the F1 grid, but Toto Wolff believes there is a large negative feeling aimed towards the Brit, who won 11 of the 21 races this season and recently finished runner up in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award.
In an interview with Reuters, Wolff revealed: "Not everybody recognises a great career, a great sportsman or greatness overall while it's happening. There is a lot of negativity and envy whilst it happens.
"It's only being recognised once a career has ended as having been really great and I don't know why that is. We are extremely privileged in following a career of maybe the greatest racing driver of all time.”
Wolff believes that fans get bored of seeing the same driver win time and time again, which is a fate that befell Michael Schumacher during his period of dominance during the early 2000s.
Schumacher is the only driver with more titles and race wins than Hamilton.
Wolff continued: "Obviously Michael has set the records and was unbelievable but Lewis is on a similar trajectory.
"Also with Michael, it was only recognised after he retired and even more when tragedy struck. And I think it's a pity.
"We are live spectators, live witnesses of a great racing driver at the peak of his abilities.
"In the U.S. you are very much inspired by success. In Europe it triggers much more envy and negativity.
"I am certainly biased because I have an emotional attachment to Lewis, for me the greatest sports person that is in his career in Britain."
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