Hamilton not fussed about recognition of his quality

Hamilton, who won his fifth drivers' title last season, is currently leading the way in this season's championship by 31 points. The Briton looks well set for his sixth title - which would be just one behind the all-time high - set by Michael Schumacher.

The five-time world champion has spoken about his success and how much it has to do with his dominant Mercedes car. When asked by RaceFans if he's concerned some people say his success is only down to the quality of his car, Hamilton replied: "I don't really care, necessarily. And I don't mean that in a negative way, it's just I don't let that affect (me).

"Everyone has a right to their own opinions. It doesn't dictate to me whether I'm doing a good or bad job. I know whether I'm doing a good or bad job and I know how I'm performing and if I've got more potential in myself. I know the great work that I do within my team, I know when I'm not doing so well on a race weekend. I'm definitely enjoying driving.

"It's a difficult sport for people to have the correct answer to that because there's only 20 of us that are driving these cars and no one in the public domain or even you guys can have the privilege of going and driving the car like we drive the car in the heat of the moment like we do. Which is a shame.

"Even I go and play sometimes basketball and I feel like LeBron (James) for a second, or Seth Curry. Sometimes I play tennis with my dad and I'm terrible - we're really not good, the Hamiltons, at tennis - but sometimes I get it just over the net and I hit it right in the corner and it's a great serve and I feel like (Roger) Federer for a second."