Hamilton sets sights on more records, new deal in Bahrain

MANAMA: Lewis Hamilton goes into this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix aiming to continue his record-breaking romp this year and make a successful start on final talks to stay with Mercedes in 2021 and beyond.

The newly-crowned seven-time champion will be bidding to claim a fourth career victory at the Sakhir Circuit, where he won last year, and seal his own future with the champion team.

Despite clinching his record-equalling seventh drivers’ title in Turkey two weeks ago, the 35-year-old Briton and his Mercedes team have no intention of easing off in the final tripleheader of three floodlit Middle Eastern races of this Covid-19 affected season.

“It’s a bit more chilled now, but I still have three races ahead of me that I really want to win,” said Hamilton, following his momentous victory at Istanbul, his 10th this season.

Hamilton, now established as the most successful driver in Formula One history, has never won more than 11 races in a season, but has a chance to do that this weekend.

He can go on to reach a total of 13 wins if he triumphs in the following Sakhir Grand Prix, at the same track, and the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, on the two following weekends.

If he does that, he will be only the third driver to claim 13 victories in a season, following fellowseven-time champion Michael Schumacher and four-time champion Sebastian Vetel.

Hamilton has already overtaken Schumacher’s record of 91 wins and is now on 94. He also holds the records for most poles, with 97, and most podium finishes, with 163 -- feats that he is likely to surpass next year if, as expected, he stays with Mercedes.

The champions have already clinched their record seventh consecutive title triumph, but they have not yet agreed a new contract with Hamilton beyond this year. Talks are expected to take place during the next three weeks.

Hamilton and his ‘black arrows’ team-mate Valteri Botas will be the favourites.

Meanwhile, Red Bull sporting director Jonathan Wheatley will miss this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix ater testing positive for Cvid-19, it was confirmed on Thursday.

The vastly-experienced key pit-wall decisionmaker returned a positive test during mandatory pre-race tests and will be isolation for 10-days in line with the sport’s protocols and public health guidelines.