You don’t have to like him. Personal taste about his choice of fashion, lifestyle, music – all that jazz – is really by the by (one can’t escape the nagging doubt that a portion of the criticism that comes his way is driven by underlying prejudice). What really counts should now be indisputable: as a pure racing driver, Hamilton has a natural capacity, instinct and talent that is beyond the realms of what we understand as normal.

And 2018 suggests he’s actually getting better. Review his five title seasons, as we have here, and there’s much to suggest his latest is his finest (so far…). Like those who watched Juan Manuel Fangio – whose title record Hamilton has now matched – Jim Clark, Jackie Stewart, Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher, we are privileged to be witnessing the poetry in motion of a gilt-edged sportsman at the height of his powers.

2008: the first and most dramatic

A world championship will surely never be decided in more enthralling fashion. How Felipe Massa scored a superb home victory – and seemingly the crown – at Interlagos to the ecstatic joy of the partisan Brazilian crowd, only for Hamilton to snatch it out of his grasp with a final-corner pass on Timo Glock’s Toyota in soaking conditions, is the stuff of F1 legend.

Hamilton scraped his first title by a single point with that last-gasp fifth place. The achievement, becoming the youngest world champion in history in only his second F1 season, was monumental – but there’s a strong case to argue that Massa deserved the crown more. Still, the harsh truth is that deserving has no relevance in top-level sport.

Lewis won five times to Felipe’s six that year, and the Ferrari should have had two more in Hungary and Singapore, but lost them through no fault of his own. Likewise, Hamilton was robbed of victory at Spa for a penalty most felt he didn’t deserve. But when it came to it, Hamilton had the pure luck all great drivers enjoy to cut a slice of history.

2014: new era, new rivalry

Another key characteristic of great racing drivers is their ability to be in the right place at the right time. Juan Manuel Fangio was a master of the art in the 1950s – he always knew his value – and Hamilton too has shown that trait, even if he’s only had to call on it once during his decade at the pinnacle.

Switching to Mercedes from McLaren at the end of 2012 looks like a no-brainer with what we know now. But back then, Mercedes was a long way from the dominant force it has since become. Hamilton deserves credit for following his instincts and recognising the strengths the manufacturer would have in the new era of expensive, complicated hybrid turbos.

That first season with the new powertrains immediately justified his call. Hamilton and Nico Rosberg won all but three of the 19 races. And although Lewis scored 11 victories to Nico’s five, he was made to work harder for his crown that most expected. Until Spa, where Rosberg triggered a controversial collision between the pair, it was the German who looked the more likely champion. Then Hamilton sprinted to five consecutive wins.

Had Rosberg stolen the title at the Abu Dhabi finale, through the one-off aberration of a double-points round, it would forever have been a travesty. As it was, Hamilton won in style to deservedly clinch his second crown.

In such contrived circumstances, you could almost sense the collective sigh of relief.

2015: Hamilton hammers ’em

Hamilton’s third title and second on the bounce was certainly his most straightforward. Such was the Mercedes advantage, he and Rosberg not only claimed 15 of the season’s 19 races, but also rolled off 12 one-two finishes.

This time there was never much doubt about which Mercedes driver would claim the crown, Lewis taking 10 of the first 11 pole positions – and by Austin in October he was champion.

What we didn’t realise was the significance of the final three races, all of which Rosberg won. The German showed remarkable and frankly unexpected strength of character in the face of Hamilton’s dominance to go on a run that he’d carry into the next season – and sensationally maintain to secure a title many had thought beyond him.

2017: normal service resumes

Could Rosberg have beaten Hamilton again, had he not decided to retire at the end of his championship season? The man himself clearly thought not.

His short-notice replacement, Valtteri Bottas, was never a threat, but Ferrari finally raised its game and in the SF70H actually had a faster car, at least at the start of the season. But by Singapore, the wheels fell of Sebastian Vettel’s title challenge when he collided with team-mate Kimi Räikkönen at the start. Hamilton was champion for a fourth time with two races still to run, with nine victories for the season. He also broke Michael Schumacher’s record of 68 F1 career pole positions.

2018: The best yet?

There’s certainly a case to be made that Hamilton’s fifth title is his finest, if you consider the challenge he has faced. Ferrari maintained its progress from 2017 and unequivocally produced a faster F1 car this year – although Mercedes has clawed back and perhaps surpassed that deficit, depending on the circuit.

Hamilton won races he shouldn’t have this year, which is always another sign of a great champion. Sure, Vettel and Ferrari made an alarming number of errors, but much like Alain Prost during his 1980s pomp, Hamilton was always there to capitalise. He has driven magnificently this year and like a fine wine, is maturing quite beautifully with age.

Will he push on to attempt matching and surpassing Schumacher’s record of seven titles? He has the team and the talent to do so. But does he really want it enough? That’s a question only he can answer.

Photography courtesy of Motorsport Images.