Lewis Hamilton has scooped another award following his record-breaking Formula One exploits - and slammed critics who attempt to "devalue" him.
The British superstar secured a record-equalling seventh world title at the Turkish Grand Prix earlier this month.
That triumph saw him move level with the Ferrari great Michael Schumacher, whose long-standing haul many thought would be impossible to match.
But Hamilton proved his critics wrong and is now finally set to be awarded a knighthood in the New Year's honours list, while the F1 ace will also be honoured with the Game Changer Of The Year award at this year’s GQ Men Of The Year Awards.
And opening up on his battle to secure yet more history, Hamilton told the GQ magazine : “My skills are getting sharper – my intuition and understanding of strategy, my understanding of my tires... I’m getting stronger and I didn’t expect that.
"And I didn’t know at what point I was going to plateau, but I’m realising that I’m getting better and that is a great feeling. But it doesn’t come without the hard work. There’s no coincidence that I’m driving the way I am.
"And, of course, we do live now in a sport where there’s such a gap between all the teams.
"People try to devalue what I do because of the machine that I have, so without doubt, I would love to have everyone in the same car, with a track that enables you to really, really race.”
Hamilton will now turn his attention to the first of two races in Bahrain, with the Brit looking to extend his dominance this weekend.
With three races to go and 10 wins from 14, Hamilton is on course for his most successful campaign yet and can become only the third driver after Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel to win 13 times in a season.
Hamilton has won three times around the Sakhir desert track, including last year after a loss of power robbed Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc of an almost certain victory.
With Mercedes dominant, the Brit is favourite again but Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas will be out to stop him.
Bahrain marks the start of a whirlwind floodlit Middle Eastern triple-header that wraps up the season.
A second race, the Sakhir Grand Prix, follows at the same venue but around the shorter outer circuit a week later before the finale at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina.
