Button on Hamilton: 'It's not about trying to better Schumacher'

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Jenson Button believes Lewis Hamilton will sustain his motivation moving forward with new challenges, not by aiming to beat Michael Schumacher's outstanding F1 records.

Hamilton secured his fifth world title last season, and the Mercedes driver is contracted to his team for at least two more years, a term that offers the Brit a good chance of equaling Schumacher's seven-title record.

Button, who raced alongside Hamilton at McLaren from 2010 to 2013, insists his former team mate likely hasn't set his sights on surpassing the great German driver's milestone achievement, but is rather seeking new challenges to tackle in the future.

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"Knowing Lewis it’s not about trying to better what Michael has done," said Sky F1's new recruit.

"I think when things are changing in F1 and there are new challenges, that’s what he loves. That’s what we all love in racing.

"It’s when the challenges stop that you decide that you are going to go and do something else.

"But with the way F1 is with the regulation changes and the drivers changing all the time, he’s going to want to keep going, which is fantastic for the sport."

In terms of race wins, Hamilton trails Schumacher's 91 F1 victories by 18 wins, a deficit that the reigning world champion hopes he can greatly reduce in the next two years.

"I've not really put any thought towards getting to that number," Hamilton said at the end of the 2018 season.

"Whether or not I'm going to have the chance to win more, who knows - but I'm going to give it everything to do so. The 91 wins that he has, for example, that's a lot of wins.

"There's still a long way to go but I'm here for a few more years, so I'm hoping that I can at least get close.

"Michael was just such a genius in how he implemented himself into Ferrari and what he did with that team. I will always be a fan of him."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.