A "drive to perfection" means Lewis Hamilton will always feel he is challenged, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says.
This past Sunday saw the Briton claim his fifth win in just seven races this season at the Belgian Grand Prix, keeping him on course to match Michael Schumacher's career total of 91 victories at Ferrari's 1000th race at Mugello next weekend.
It was also a win that extended his championship lead to 47 points in the Drivers' standings over Max Verstappen, as Hamilton closes in on the German's tally of seven world championships.
Yet while Lewis does appear to be in a class of his own right now, Wolff explained just how dedicated to his job he is.
“One of his character traits, which is truly inspirational for the whole team, is that as a person off track and a driver in the car he is just always able to improve,” the Austrian told Channel 4.
“He reflects a lot. You would think that a six-time World Champion, a global superstar of the sport, should say at a certain stage ‘that is good, what I’m doing’ but he would never do this.
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“He would always try to optimise. When you get him into the briefing you would think he finished 15th.
“I think this is the correct character trait that is truly different.”
It is also for that reason that the Mercedes chief thinks Hamilton will never lose motivation even when he is so dominant.
“Well I think he is being challenged, the challenge for him is to drive to perfection," he added.
"There is still the Schumacher record out there which he can achieve if he continues to perform and in that respect, he just never stops.
“I would be very happy [if Lewis beats the title record] because that would mean 10 years of success between Lewis and Mercedes.
“It would be like how Michael shaped the Ferrari years. I remember as a fan back then that it was a bit dull, Ferrari winning 1-2, and I understand [the frustration] but the records are there to be broken.”
Mercedes' celebrations have also become very muted this season but Wolff denies the joy of winning is fading.
“We have laughed together over the joy of winning,” he said.
"The joy of winning ends in the aeroplane on the way back home. The pain of losing hangs above us like a black cloud for four or five days, so we try to avoid that!”
