The Salafis claim that the followers of Mathhabs are not of the Ahlus Sunnah.

Answer

Their claim is satanic bunkum. Salafis are deceitful in claiming that they follow the Salaf of the first three ages of Islam. Their Imaam is Ibn Taimiyyah who came about 6 centuries after Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam). Whatever he had interpreted, they follow. Thus, they are liars.

Furthermore, they practice taqiyah similar

to the Shiahs. The doctrine of speaking holy lies (taqiyah) of the Shiahs religiously orders them to conceal their true beliefs of kufr to beguile Muslims. In like manner, Salafis conceal their deviant identity by labelling themselves 'salafi', and worse, by proffering the blatant LIE of them being Hambalis. Although they generally follow the Fiqh of the Hambali Math-hab, they are not Hambalis just as the Mu'tazilis are not Hanafis merely because they follow Hanafi Fiqh in the rituals of the Shariah.

The gap between Salafis and the Salafus Saaliheen is about centuries. Their first Imaam is Ibn Taimiyyah. Between Ibn Taimiyyah and Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) there is a gap of almost 6 centuries while the gap between Imaam Abu H a n a i f a h a n d R a s u l u l l a h (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) is years. Thus, he flourished during the Khairul Quroon. Only the followers of the Four Math-habs are the true followers of the Salafus Saaliheen.