Lewis Hamilton has been hailed as the greatest British sportsman in history after he emulated Michael Schumacher by winning his seventh Formula 1 world championship, triumphing against the odds in Sunday’s Turkish Grand Prix.

Hamilton delivered the drive of drives to wrap up his sixth title in seven years with a brilliant victory at Sunday’s rain-soaked Istanbul Park.

The 35-year-old Englishman will now end his career as the most decorated driver in Formula One history, having already registered a greater number of victories, pole positions and podiums than anyone who has gone before him.

“I just watched Lewis Hamilton drive to his seventh world title crown,” tweeted former England and Manchester United captain Rio Ferdinand. “The greatest sportsman this country has ever produced – no doubts. And he still has more chapters to come.”

The case will now be made for Hamilton to be knighted in the New Year Honours list.

As revealed by the PA news agency last month, former Labour cabinet minister Lord Hain, who serves as Chair for the All-Party Parliamentary F1 Group, will now write to Prime Minister Boris Johnson urging that Hamilton follow in the footsteps of Andy Murray, Mo Farah and Alastair Cook as Britain’s next sporting Sir.