Hamilton in hot pursuit of Schumi
Mexico City: It may have been ugly, but Lewis Hamilton’s success in claiming his fourth world championship on Sunday has moved him within range of becoming the most successful racing driver of all time.
His ninth place finish at the Mexican Grand Prix was not the way in which he had hoped to seal his triumphant season, but his racing peers and most paddock observers believed that mattered little.
Not only did the 32-yearold Briton deserve this year’s championship, but, many have suggested, he proved he is capable of scaling even greater heights.
His age, the consistency of his Mercedes team and the maturing of his extraordinary raw talent for speed have combined to give him a unique platform for more recordbreaking achievements.
Mercedes resisted a spirited challenge from a revived Ferrari to dominate the 2017 season and reel off a fourth consecutive constructors’ world championship.
That level of performance coupled with Hamilton’s talents and experience means Hamilton has good reason to believe he can go on to win not only a fifth title, to equal the record of Argentine Juan Manuel Fangio, but rise beyond it to match German Michael Schumacher’s seven championship wins.
“Michael is still the greatest when you look at the outright results, but if Lewis stays and if Mercedes stay as competitive, you could see him getting close to winning seven,” said his former McLaren team mate and fellow Briton Jenson Button.
Schumacher’s records of seven titles and 91 career victories remain unchallenged, but Hamilton, on 62 wins, has already passed his pole positions record — with 72 poles — and, at 32, is the same age as the German when he won his fourth title.
And, since 2104, he has won 40 races with Mercedes, at an average 10 per season — a good enough return to justify belief in his potential to deliver more titles.
“He has made big decisions, including leaving McLaren, which was a surprise to a lot of people, including me,” said Jackie Stewart, the man he has surpassed as Britain’s most successful F1 driver.