© Steve Etherington for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.
Lewis Hamilton says he doesn’t “think a lot about the whole ‘greatest of all time’”, because he thinks “it’s very hard to compare people”.
Ahead of the United States Grand Prix Lewis Hamilton was a guest on CNN Sport’s Coy Wire. The Briton was asked what it was like to go for the title of ‘Greatest Of All Time’.
“I don’t think a lot about the whole ‘greatest of all time’ because I think it’s very hard to compare people,” the Briton said.
“Just in that one moment, it’s about being the greatest you can be and living to your full potential. So that’s something that I just search for and [stay] as focused and driven as I could possibly be.
“I think the surprising thing is that I’ve been racing this long and I still have that same feeling when I fail or when I don’t succeed, and I turn that into a positive and use it as fuel.
“I thought that that would wear off as I got older, but it’s not.”
Lewis then reveals he approaches every Formula 1 season like hes’ “not a champion”.
“My dream was always to get to Formula One, to do something like Ayrton Senna — he had three world titles. And then to see myself match him at one point, and then go beyond that.
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“To think that I’m here today, where most people don’t even get one championship and to have seven is very, very crazy still.
“But every year when I come back, it’s like a reset. Like, I’m not a champion. I have no titles. I’m going for the first.
“That’s kind of my mentality. But an eighth? I don’t know. I never really say.”
This year the Briton is facing one of the toughest challenges he has faced since 2014 – an extremely close title fight with Max Verstappen. However, Lewis says he always remains focused on his own performance.
“I think for us it’s just making sure we continue to enjoy the journey, to not apply too much pressure to ourselves because we’ve been here many, many times before.
“But not let that desire and that yearning for success overpower everything and put added pressure on us that we don’t really need.
“But it’s all about preparation, making sure we’re the best prepared we can be,” concluded the seven-time champion.
