Hamilton: Schumacher's F1 win record not out of reach

Schumacher won 64 races in his first 11 seasons in F1 between 1992 and 2002, although he missed several races when injured in 1999.

Hamilton has reached 62 in the same period - but in more races - and he still has two more chances before the end of the season.

"It depends, really," Hamilton said when asked by Motorsport.com about the prospect of scoring 30 more wins. "I think I can continue winning for a long, long time.

"I guess ultimately it depends if the fight remains within you. Of course it is still there now.

"I still don't really have a desire to chase Michael, although I am obviously a lot closer than I ever was. I think before it felt so distant, getting 91 wins. But maybe now...

"It's still a long way off, but it's not impossible to think that I could potentially get somewhere near."

Hamilton also expanded on the prospect of reaching Schumacher's total of seven world championships, having already passed the three of his hero Ayrton Senna.

"My goal was to get to F1, and then I'd love to win a world championship. I won a world championship, and my thought process was be grateful for the one you have. Of course you can work towards another, but you have to be grateful for the one you have.

"A lot of people don't even have a world championship, so I was be thankful for the one I have. Then I got a second one and I had that same thought, then I got the third… Now I have the fourth, I have the same thought process. I believe I can win more championships.

"My goal has never been to reach Michael, I always wanted to do something similar to Ayrton [Senna], so now I'm beyond that, the dream is expanding into an area I wasn't planning."

Hamilton acknowledged that his fourth title has further elevated him in the eyes of many observers as one of the best drivers in grand prix racing history.

"Obviously I'm really just grateful to be up there amongst the real, real greats. Not only amongst them, but really standing up there with them, with the four titles, with the pole positions.

"That's something I'm very, very proud of. I've got at least one more year in me, probably more, and I have every plan to win more races."