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Damon Hill: Hamilton the 'greatest racer' Britain has produced

F1 world champion Damon Hill believes Lewis Hamilton is the greatest racer ever produced by the United Kingdom, despite the Mercedes star not receiving the credit he deserves.

Hamilton's 64-point lead over Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas in the 2019 Drivers' championship with just four rounds to go has strengthened his odds of securing a sixth world title this season.

Current stats position Hamilton in the wake of F1 legend Michael Schumacher with regard to overall wins with the Mercedes star nine wins short of the German ace's historic 91-win milestone.

Bottas 'proud and happy' for every Mercedes team member

Comparing drivers from various eras of motorsport is a futile task for many, but 1996 world champion and 22-time Grand Prix winner Damon Hill claims that Hamilton is the best driver to hail from the UK.

"It should be self-evident that Lewis is the greatest racer we've ever produced," Hill told the Daily Mail.

"One more to go after this one and he has equalled Schumacher, which was considered to be almost unreachable.

"Year-in and year-out, he has delivered against all comers in all situations and he has got this down to a fine art now, the way he goes about it.

"He has matured in every respect. He is properly formidable as a competitor. He is probably at the height of his powers and he knows it and he is relaxed about it."

Hill contends that, for reasons linked to the sport itself rather than to Hamilton, F1's superstar doesn't get the credit he deserves.

"I don’t think it’s Lewis’s fault," Hill said. "I wonder if it’s the sport itself that has drifted away from the centre of attention.

"The fanbase is still there in the UK but the viewership globally, a lot of people moved away from it when Michael was winning everything."

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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.