Lewis Hamilton may well have a decent case as Formula 1’s GOAT, but that’s still nothing on basketball’s undisputed Greatest of all Time.
The Brit holds the joint record for most-ever F1 crowns at seven with Michael Schumacher, but he’s clear on race wins, pole positions, and a number of other factors.
He’s also transcended the sport in his 30s, becoming a global superstar outside of the sport’s usual fanbase, into the US and beyond.
Becoming a Sir in 2021, his stock rose to all new heights, but not enough for a snub that left him feeling humbled.
Hamilton, who occasionally dabbles in a spot of golf, has revealed that he was once stood up by sporting icon Michael Jordan.
In an interview with TIME magazine he spoke about golfing partners Samuel L. Jackson, Kelly Slater and Tom Holland.
Yet when he went to play with the one he was most excited about – Jordan – he ‘didn’t end up being there’.
This anecdote must have been from earlier in his career, given that the pair were seen hanging out together at the Miami Grand Prix in 2022.
The inaugural event around the Miami Dolphins Hard Rock Stadium was jam-packed with sporting royalty, and outside the Mercedes garage, Jordan had his arm around Hamilton.
Alongside the two megastars were another pair on top of that – Tom Brady and David Beckham.
Brady likely has the best shout as a GOAT, having won seven Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers – more than any other player in NFL history.
Jordan, meanwhile, has nine NBA championships, the joint tenth most in history, and also holds a number of incredible scoring records.
@TomBradyBrady posted the epic shot on Instagram[/caption]
He also transcended the sport to become a celebrity outside of his game, something he has in common with Beckham.
The former England captain won numerous honours with Manchester United, Real Madrid, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain, giving him the cache to found MLS side Inter Miami.
Hamilton, a co-owner of the Denver Broncos, might not be at their level just yet, but his sporting success at least means he won’t be overlooked on the golf course again.
The driver is set to enter his 19th season in F1 after a blockbuster transfer from Mercedes to Ferrari.
When asked if he believes his new team can propel him to glory, Hamilton told the press: “Yes. I’ve worked with two world-championship winning teams (McLaren and Mercedes) and I know what a winning team looks and feels like.
“The passion here is like nothing I have ever seen. They have got absolutely every ingredient needed to win a world championship.”
He added: “This team has an insane legacy and in their DNA, they have that winning mentality. The competition is fierce and it is going to be close at the top but with the energy that I am receiving from the team, there’s magic here.
“It’s going to take a lot of hard work and grafting from absolutely everyone and everyone’s putting that in already to achieve it, but it’s also about belief.
“For me, I am not thinking about the number eight. I’m thinking like it is the first for Ferrari and the first championship that the team will have won for some time.
“So, how can I contribute to that? And how can I help them achieve that? The organisation is massive and you don’t want to let people down. You want to be able to deliver on your work.
“My resolution for the year was that my life, my mentality, had to be elevated in absolutely every area – my fitness, my time management, how I engage with my engineers, how much time I spend in the factory, all these different things.
“I’ve definitely done that and I will continue to do that, in this strive for perfection and to achieve the success that I’m aiming to achieve.
“And if I was fortunate enough to win another title, which is obviously what we’re setting out to do, I don’t see myself stopping.”
