Wolff: Hamilton won't be appreciated until after he has left F1

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff believes that Lewis Hamilton won't be appreciated fully until he has retired from Formula One. Hamilton is Britain's most successful F1 driver with five world championships to his name.

Although Hamilton has enjoyed success only two other F1 drivers have previously achieved, his feats have not been celebrated like they should be according to Wolff.

Having surpassed British records set by Jim Clark and Sir Jackie Stewart, Hamilton could go on to break previously unreachable records in the sport before he retires.

With five world titles and 73 race victories leaving him only behind Michael Schumacher on both lists, his Mercedes boss ranks him alongside the seven-time champion as “the best we have ever seen.”

Speaking to Middle-Eastern newspaper The National, Wolff said he felt Hamilton's success in F1 wouldn't be fully acknowledged until after his retirement from the sport.

“We’re only going to realise when he retires one day. We tend to never acknowledge somebody’s great performance while it happens.

“We are always full of the types of people who retire or die. But they are never saying ‘This guy is really unbelievable, we’re alive to witness an exceptional performer’.

"I think we should recognise that while we are still racing.”