3-time champion Lewis Hamilton is on his way to becoming one of the greats

One of the greats?

One of his idols: Lewis Hamilton looks in admiration at Michael Schumacher, arguably F1’s Greatest of All Time

Despite being more successful in terms of championships earned at 31, an age where even Schumacher hadn't collected as many (although he won seven titles in total), wouldn't it be early to say that Hamilton, who has driven over 45,000 kilometers in F1 racing, is an all time great?

His talent is unquestionable as is his following. But can we say for certain that he's the most capable driver out there in terms of adaptability to a racing track, overall car maneuverability and raw pace? While Vetttel, Raikkonen and Alonso are the only promising and convincing names that come close to matching Lewis' talent, experience and skill, their current statistics don't augur well for them being accorded the glory that sits atop Hamilton.

While statistics aren't and cannot always be the pivotal yardstick for measuring a driver's talent, the three of them boast seven world championships between them, with Alonso having won twice and Raikkonen winning in his debut year with Ferrari way back in 2007, still holding the envious record which the likes of Prost and Schumacher did not achieve.

The 4 titles belonging to Vettel stand considerable threat of being bettered by an in-form Hamilton who has had at his disposal a championship winning car as did the German during his unstoppable Red Bull era.

Who knows what a better 2016 car may fetch Raikkonen, who we'll see possibly in his last competitive season. Alonso too would be hoping for his McLaren powered Honda to swing back into the thick of things if they are to gain redemption.

But how will we ever know who stands tallest of the four immensely talented drivers who are separated not only by age but by a different set of skill and talent?

While Alonso's 2014 performance in a hapless Ferrari F14 T drove home valuable points for a despicable Ferrari season that left Kimi absolutely gutted, it also signaled that at 34, the Spaniard had some hidden aces up his sleeve which only enhance his aura, in similar fashion to his 2005 and 2006 triumphs.

One of the most authentic characters in Formula One and also its most notoriously tacit, Raikkonen has often been likened to that sharp shooter who manages to hit the bull's eye whilst still missing a few early hits. What would have happened had he not hit Bottas during the last rounds of Sochi or if his late awakening right at the start of Monza this year not had happened in the first place?

We will leave Kimi's critics to paint him in heated diatribes of red as the 36-year-old stands his ground in a visbily improved 2015 season at No. 4 where he's sparkled with two podium finishes and having set two fastest laps (Bahrain, Canada).

Vettel, whose reign at Red Bull (2011, 2012, 2013) left statisticians and F1 pundits to paint the media with an unstoppable flurry of "Sebastianisms" in front of his commanding honor is clearly Hamilton's closest competitor if not nearly his current nemesis. Only Vettel has managed to topple Hamilton – at Malaysia, Hungary and Singapore – where the ever smiling Briton did concede that the German's unexpected performance did give Mercedes some jitters.

What's even more interesting is that despite looking comfortably solid at matching Vettel's tally of 4 World Championship titles on current form, Hamilton stands every chance of being hit by a future Vettel storm. The German, two and a half years younger than the Briton, is perhaps as motivated, if not more, than Britain's current poster boy.

But F1 isn't a sport where you win races on paper. At least Mercedes’ F1 non-executive chairman and F1 legend Niki Lauda or Totto Wolff won't prescribe to these irrational bouts of exuberance if any die-hard fans of the Brackley based outfit conform to these lofty dreams.

We have amongst us some imposing racing talents who, with their individual brilliance and intense rivalries on race day, make F1 a larger than life treat. It is in the triumphs of amazing talents like Hamilton and his close competitors that racing becomes an endless feast. And may it remain that way always.