Lewis Hamilton stands out among the ranks of Formula One drivers.

He’s the lone black driver in the sport, and his talent and success have propelled him into the ranks of the greats of F1 — the top class of world single-seat auto racing.

In his first eight seasons, the Englishman has racked up 36 wins. Only four drivers have won more in the fast cars that can reach speeds of 220 mph in the races called Grand Prix.

Hamilton is now the reigning champion in this sport, and among only a small number who have earned the No. 1 spot more than once.

He claimed the FI World Champion title in 2014, adding to his first title in 2008.

Hamilton is now going for a third world title, which would tie him with his racing idol, Ayrton Senna.

Odds makers have made Hamilton the favorite to defend the crown he won last November. In a season of 19 races that will last into the fall, he’s definitely off to a good start.

Already, Hamilton has won three of the first five races this season and come close in the other two races. He placed second May 10 in Spain’s Grand Prix in Barcelona. His next race is May 21 through 24 in Monaco.

If he wins the title, the 30-year-old Hamilton would be only the 10th driver ever to win three or more championship titles in F1 racing, which dates to 1950.

If all goes well this season, Hamilton also could match or surpass Senna’s record of 41 title wins, which would move him up to third all-time.

He still would have a ways to go to surpass the top two — Frenchman Alain Prost, who had 51 wins before retiring, and the No. 1, German Michael Schumacher, who recorded an amazing 91 wins in 17 seasons.

But no one is counting Hamilton out from topping Schumacher before his career ends.

Still, while he’s aggressive on the track, Hamilton is modest off the track in considering his place in the sport.

Asked if he should be considered a legend already, Hamilton, who was nicknamed “Il Fenomeno” in Italy when he arrived in Formula One like a starburst in 2007, brushed off such talk.

“Legend? What does that mean?” he told one interviewer. “It’s just an opinion of people whether you are a legend or not.”

Hamilton, when pushed, added: “I hope, when I have retired and am much, much older — perhaps in 30 years — a kid might use the word ‘legend’ for me.”

Others do not need to wait 30 years before passing judgment. A former teammate, Jenson Button, considers Hamilton exceptional “for his talent for pulling off passes, for turning seconds and thirds into unexpected victories.”

Nigel Mansell, who won 31 races and was the winningest British driver before Hamilton, is positive that Hamilton can do what he never could — “win back-to-back world titles” and “dominate the sport for years to come.”

As for Hamilton, he’s ready to add another title to his trophy case and cement his reputation as No. 1 in the F1 world.

“I want to go and grab the championship title more than ever,” he said. “I want to win, and my team wants to win, and that’s what we’re going to do our best to do.”