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Britain's 10 greatest sportspeople as Lewis Hamilton stakes claim for top spot

The world champion is one of Formula One's greatest drivers.

Lewis Hamilton broke Michael Schumacher's Formula One record of 91 career wins with victory on Sunday at the Portuguese Grand Prix.

Hamilton, one of the greatest drivers in the history of the sport, has sealed his place among Britain's all-time sporting greats.

Here, the PA news agency takes a look at some of the candidates who could make the hallowed, and highly subjective, list.

Lewis Hamilton

Hamilton on the podium after his record-breaking triumph in Portugal
Hamilton on the podium after his record-breaking triumph in Portugal (Jose Sena Goulao/AP)

The 35-year-old has surpassed Schumacher's mark of 91 Grand Prix wins and is on course to equal the German's record of seven world championship titles. Hamilton also holds the records for most podium finishes, most career points and most championship points in a season.

Sir Chris Hoy

Hoy wins another Olympic gold medal at London 2012
Hoy wins another Olympic gold medal at London 2012 (David Davies/PA)

Hoy is the most successful Olympic cyclist of all time. He won a total  of six gold and one silver medal and in 2008 became the first Briton in 100 years to win three golds at one Olympic Games. Hoy is also an 11-time World Championship winner.

Sir Steve Redgrave

Redgrave, left, wins gold in the coxless fours at the Sydney Olympics
Redgrave, left, wins gold in the coxless fours at the Sydney Olympics (Toby Melville/PA)

Redgrave was Britain's greatest Olympian until his remarkable feats were surpassed by Hoy, winning gold rowing medals at five successive Olympic Games from 1984 to 2000, his last one at the age of 38 and three years after being diagnosed with diabetes. Redgrave also won nine golds at the World Championships.

Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill

Ennis-Hill was the poster girl of the 2012 London Olympics
Ennis-Hill was the poster girl of the 2012 London Olympics (John Giles/PA)

Ennis-Hill is Britain's greatest female athlete of all-time. She lived up to her poster girl status by winning heptathlon gold at the 2012 London Olympics and was twice crowned world champion. She has held British records in four different disciplines and was also one of the world's leading 100m hurdlers.

George Best

Best was described by Pele as the greatest footballer of all time
Best was described by Pele as the greatest footballer of all time (PA)

Best is regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all-time, voted sixth in FIFA's player of the 20th century poll. Named European player of the year in 1968 after helping Manchester United win the European Cup, the Northern Irishman was also described by Pele as the best he ever saw.

Sir Mo Farah

Farah celebrates winning 5,000m gold at Rio 2016
Farah celebrates winning 5,000m gold at Rio 2016 (Mike Egerton/PA)

Farah is the most decorated British track athlete in modern Olympic Games history. He won 5,000m and 10,000m gold at both the 2012 and 2016 Olympics and also completed the double at the World Championships in 2013 and 2015. He is the first man to successfully defend his titles at both major competitions.

Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson

Tanni Grey-Thompson won 11 Paralympic gold medals and six world titles
Tanni Grey-Thompson won 11 Paralympic gold medals and six world titles (Gareth Copley/PA)

Grey-Thompson was a pioneer for global disability sport. The Briton was crowned Paralympic champion 11 times – in Barcelona, Atlanta, Sydney and Athens – and won six world titles while competing mainly in events ranging from 100m to 800m. She also broke 30 world records.

Sir Andy Murray

Murray celebrates winning Wimbledon for a second time in 2016
Murray celebrates winning Wimbledon for a second time in 2016 (Adam Davy/PA)

In an era dominated by tennis greats Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, Murray reached world number one and won three grand slam titles at Wimbledon (2013 and 2016) and the US Open (2012). He was twice crowned Olympic champion (2012 and 2016) and led Great Britain to Davis Cup glory in 2015. He was also runner-up in eight other grand slam finals.

Ronnie O'Sullivan

O'Sullivan won his latest world title at The Crucible in August
O'Sullivan won his latest world title at The Crucible in August (BBC)

O'Sullivan is widely regard as the best snooker player of all-time. He is a six-time world champion, a record seven-time Masters champion and a record seven-time UK champion. He also holds the record for the most ranking titles, with 37, winning his first aged 17.

Phil Taylor

Taylor has been crowned world champion 16 times
Taylor has been crowned world champion 16 times (PA)

Taylor, recognised as darts' greatest-ever player, won the World Championship on 16 occasions – eight times consecutively from 1995 to 2002 – and reached 14 successive finals. He dominated darts for over two decades, winning a record 85 major titles.

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Lewis Hamilton pictured at the Portuguese GP on October 24, 2020
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