Lewis Hamilton has proclaimed that a fifth Formula One title would be his proudest achievement and he intends to seal the championship by winning Sunday’s Mexican Grand Prix despite only needing a seventh place finish.

Hamilton is currently 70 points ahead of Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel with only 75 available in the final three races as the Mercedes driver aims to equal the title tally of the late Argentine great Juan Manuel Fangio.

Old rival and former close friend Nico Rosberg has downplayed Hamilton’s historic season, however, undermining the Englishman’s achievements by stating his old foe is about to be gifted the title.

Hamilton has immediately dismissed the German’s comments and called for Rosberg and other critics to appreciate the hard work that has gone into the Brit’s record breaking season.

The Brit has said: “I see a lot of people saying things have been handed to us, which is taking away from the job the team and I have done.

“Just winning the championship has been the goal. When I won my first, one of the ex-champions said it would get harder to win a second.

“And every one after that has got harder and harder to win a championship, even though you are improving.

“But I would say this is one of my most enjoyable years given the adversity I have faced.

“It would be the one I am most proud of and appreciate more.”

Lewis Hamilton to win the Mexico Grand Prix (9/5)*

Former champion Rosberg has angered the 33-year-old star with derogatory comments on both his title campaign and that of rival driver Sebastian Vettel.

“It’s all about consistency,” Rosberg said. “He’s done the opposite. He (Vettel) has been all over the place really in the last few months, he and the team both together.

“It’s been so one-sided since the summer, it’s unbelievable. It was seemingly Vettel who was going to take the championship and it’s just gone completely the other direction with total dominance since.

“It’s just the result of mistakes, you’re never going to beat Lewis like that, because Lewis doesn’t make mistakes.”

*Odds subject to change, 18+, www.begambleaware.org