Lack of respect for Hamilton comes from disinterest: 'People didn't see that'

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton could add an eighth title to the list this year, should he win the title battle against Max Verstappen. The dominance of Hamilton and Mercedes is often something the world champion is frowned upon, but Toto Wolff tells the Daily Mail that he feels people don't know the whole story.

The Brit began his career in 2007 and since then he has won 100 races, stood on the podium 177 times and won seven championships. According to the Mercedes team boss, Hamilton's backstory has often been ignored, when it is important for the public to know.

"He had a lot of success immediately with McLaren, and the story of his earlier life, the financial struggles, the racism he was exposed to, is not something that was ever in the public eye. People didn't see that. What they saw was a young man coming into Formula 1 and being successful from the get-go. And because he is also an extravagant person that polarises further. People can't cope with it," said the Austrian.

"He is a team member, not a contractor."

Wolff feels that people think Hamilton has everything and always wins and therefore they start cheering for the underdogs. The Mercedes team boss sees that the 36-year-old driver has made good choices in his career and he thinks people should respect that.

"The people who say they could be world champions in Lewis' car — well, why aren't you in that car? Why did he switch from McLaren to Mercedes in 2013? It was a bold move. There are examples, even now, people who went for the money rather than the car. I don't think that would ever be Lewis. He's a team member, not a contractor."

The Austrian hopes and thinks that people will only really start to see the value of Hamilton when he decides to retire from Formula One. "Only when he retires, I think, will people comprehend the magnitude of his achievements."