Lewis Hamilton will stay in Formula 1 and far surpass Michael Schumacher's records providing Mercedes remain competitive.
That is the confident prediction from Jenson Button and Mercedes boss Toto Wolff as the Briton sits on the brink of becoming a six-time world champion this weekend in Austin.
Thanks to the domination of the German manufacturer since 2014, Hamilton is reaching heights few thought imaginable again after Schumacher himself achieved them with Ferrari 15 years ago.
In the next year, the 34-year-old could equal Michael's seven F1 titles and beat his tally if 91 wins, having scored his 83rd last weekend in Mexico.
Beyond that, Button claims it is all down to if Mercedes can keep delivering.
“He’s always going to try to beat that record,” the 2009 champion told the UK Standard.
“When you’re in a car that’s winning all the time, no one wants to turn that down. If I was offered a winning car, I’d be back in F1 in a flash.
“But if Lewis were in the middle of the pack, I’d see him leaving at the end of this year.”
Wolff also believes suggestions of Hamilton retiring any time soon, regardless of surpassing Schumacher's records or not, are unfounded.
“I think he’s going to race as long as he feels he enjoys it and that he is competitive enough,” he told Reuters.
“There is an age factor, that isn’t kicking in and that hasn’t happened (yet). Kimi (Raikkonen) has had his 40th birthday so why not?
“In between, we need to continue to deliver a good enough car. If we do that, then yes he could shatter (Schumacher’s records).”
The divisive nature of Hamilton means the reaction to his achievement is very much split between his fans and his detractors, but the Austrian does think he'll earn their respect eventually.
“It is a funny thing with extraordinary achievements that they are recognized and praised much more once a career has ended,” Wolff explained.
“Michael, while in the middle of his career, polarized a lot. There was a lot of criticism. Today there is not one person who doesn’t speak about him as the greatest of all time.
“At the moment he is still leading the table.”
