Lewis: Money, Schu's records don't appeal.

Newly-crowned 2008 Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton has revealed that equalling or even surpassing the seven titles achieved by the record-breaking Michael Schumacher does 'not appeal' to him - as experts predict he could overtake the German legend in overall career earnings.

The McLaren-Mercedes star - at just 23 years and 301 days - became the youngest driver ever to lift the laurels in the 58-year history of the top flight at the end of a nail-biting climax to the Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos on Sunday. That made him two years younger than Schumacher when he first claimed the trophy for Benetton in 1994, but the Briton is adamant chasing records is not his style.

"I don't plan to try to reach any of his records," Hamilton is quoted as having insisted by Sky Sports. "They don't mean a huge amount to me. They are not something that appeals to me.

"I just love racing, getting in the car and winning championships, with the feeling you get after all that work from the people around you, and you extracting the most out of yourself. That's the most fulfilling achievement, so records are not so important."

The nine-time grand prix-winner - who grew up on a humble Stevenage council estate - also seems to have little taste for all the trappings of success that seem likely to come the way of a man who, with a Pussycat Doll girlfriend already on his arm in the shape of Nicole Scherzinger, now appears set to replace David Beckham as Britain's highest-earning sportsman. The LA Galaxy star earned ?20 million a year through lucrative sponsorship deals alone at the height of his England, Manchester United and Real Madrid playing career.

Experts are suggesting should his success prove to be sustained, Hamilton could even go on to overtake golfer Tiger Woods to become the highest-earning sportsperson in the world and its first billionaire competitor, claims UK newspaper The Times. According to Forbes Magazine, Woods is due to become the first sportsperson to accumulate $1 billion by next year.

Hamilton's five-year McLaren contract is understood to be worth ?75 million, with a Reebok sponsorship deal and other endorsements set to add a further ?20 million to that figure - and suggestions that his financial agreement with the Woking-based outfit could double to as much as ?30 million per year from 2012 if his career momentum continues.

Those close to the first British title-winner since Damon Hill believe his total career earnings could even hit a staggering ?500 million - more even than Schumacher, who, Sky Sports recalls, 'at his peak was a one-man business empire, complete with branded dolls, sunglasses and a vacuum cleaner'. Be that as it may, financial rewards, Hamilton stresses, have never been a driving factor.

"I'm comfortable in life," he underlined. "It's an amazing feeling to know you have some money considering I never had ?100 to go and buy a pair of trainers when I was younger, so to think I can do that now is great, but money doesn't really appeal to me.

"As a young kid, to be given an opportunity in Formula 1 I would have done it for free. It just so happens I get paid to do my hobby, everything I love, and it's nice to be able to take care of my family. That's all that really matters, so I'm happy.

"It would be nice to have a house at some stage, but I don't know where or what I particularly want. I've a nice apartment, a nice drum kit, nice guitars - I don't need anything more really.

"There are some things in the future I might want to get, but there will be a time and place for those. My reward is winning the world championship. What else do I need?

"I only had a couple of glasses of champagne [on Sunday evening in Brazil]. I remember sitting there towards the end of the night and a song came on, 'We Are The Champions' by Queen. I saw all the team members - my mechanics, engineers, catering staff, the bosses, my dad - and everyone was so happy.

"I just sat there and took it all in. It was a feeling you can't put into words, to see how happy you have made everyone after all the hard work they have put in, and how satisfied they are. That was really my present, seeing all that."

Industry insiders, however, have hinted the ramifications of Hamilton's title glory could be considerably wider-reaching - both for him and for the sport he has thrust so prominently into the limelight over the past two years.

"What he's achieved guarantees his bankability is of the highest order," argued Henry Chappell, chief executive of sports PR agency Pitch, on the subject of F1's first-ever black world champion. "Banks like RBS shouldn't turn to the Government for a bail-out...they should probably ask Lewis Hamilton!"

"There were a lot of things against him achieving this and he defied all of the bookies and all of the logic," added former team owner Eddie Jordan, in an interview with Sky News. "It was a huge day for British sport, and the pop star image - that will continue. He is a very good-looking boy."

"His life isn't going to change that much," countered fellow Irishman Eddie Irvine, a four-time grand prix winner and a contender for glory himself with Ferrari in 1999. "He was already the most famous racing driver in the world.

"Being world champion is something off his back; he'll have less pressure and be able to get stuck in and think about winning races and having fun, without having that bogey man hanging over him."