I'm anything but perfect, but Roger Federer is! - Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton is the current world champion of Formula One and is positioned well to win the 2018 title also, but he has jokingly shot down suggestions he is currently driving perfectly, and insists there is only one athlete currently close to that - Roger Federer.

Hamilton has gained five GP wins and nine podium positions so far this season, and with nine races to go he is 24 points ahead of his nearest rival, Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari.

The Brit has certainly been close to perfection in a few races, but he reckons that perfect is a word better served for someone of the calibre of Muhammad Ali, or Federer.

“Perfect? I am anything but perfect,” Hamilton said.

“By far! Look at Muhammad Ali or to make an example, Roger Federer.

“These athletes are much closer to perfection than me. The word ‘perfect’ makes me think of a musician that finds the right tone at every concert. And then perfection is a concept that constantly changes. It's evolving.

“You evolve when you get older, when you gain wisdom. And when our strength decreases, I suppose that our perception towards perfection changes again.

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“It will be about being able to play sport.”

This is not the first time Hamilton has expressed his admiration for Federer, and believes the tennis superstar's continual desire to succeed makes him a true role model.

“I always come back to talking about Roger Federer, but he’s a great example,” the Mercedes driver said.

“He has managed to become the world No 1 again. He is a happy family man, he is very wealthy, but still, he has this tremendous inner drive to reach new heights.

“Maybe that’s really a sign of greatness.”