Hamilton is rewriting history - Brawn

For Brawn, there is no doubt as to who the key figure has been for Mercedes in that time.

"Much of this success is down to Lewis Hamilton, an amazing driver who is rewriting the history of this sport in a manner all his own," the F1 motorsport boss wrote in his review of the Japanese GP which saw Mercedes win the title.

"It’s always difficult to establish how much is down to the car and how much to the driver, but in the end, for me, it’s the team that counts the most. Formula 1 is a team sport and even if the driver is the star of the show he cannot win without a team behind him.

"Mercedes has reached a higher level than its rivals and so far has been almost untouchable.

“However, without wishing to be the bearer of bad tidings, sooner or later the wind changes. It’s the law of the jungle in every sport. But no matter what may come, the achievements of the men and women of Brackley, Brixworth and Stuttgart will always be in the history books."

Brawn was technical director of Ferrari when they won five double championships in a row, and he has praised Mercedes for beating the record, as now only Hamilton or Bottas can win the second title in 2019.

"It’s an amazing result and I really want to congratulate Toto Wolff and his team," he said.

"Twelve world titles in six years is exceptional and beats Ferrari's haul from 1999 to 2004, something I well remember as I was technical director of that team at the time.

"Back then Maranello missed out on the Drivers’ title in the first of those years, losing out at the final race, in Suzuka in fact, when Mika Häkkinen won, thus shattering Eddie Irvine’s dream of bringing the title back to Ferrari for the first time since Jody Scheckter’s triumph 20 years earlier.

"Mercedes deserves this record, having been invincible in the first three years of the hybrid era, after which it showed it was able to still hold off its rivals for the three more years when Ferrari and occasionally Red Bull provided the competition."