Records set to fall at Nurburgring

MOTORSPORT

NURBURG, Germany: Formula One is set for a recordbreaking weekend when the Nurburgring hosts the first Eifel Grand Prix on Monday and one of them at least will not have Lewis Hamilton's name on it.

While the six times world champion has a second go at matching Michael Schumacher's 91 career wins at the German's home circuit, Alfa Romeo’s Kimi Raikkonen will line up for his 323rd grand prix start after equalling Brazilian Rubens Barrichello's record in Russia two weeks ago.

The Finnish ‘‘Iceman’’, who made his Formula One debut with Sauber in 2001 and is now 40 and the oldest man in the race, is unlikely to give much more than a shoulder shrug at the achievement.

All eyes were on Alfa Romeo last night when Mick Schumacher, 21yearold son of seven times world champion Michael and leader of the Formula Two feeder series, made his practice debut.

Hamilton won at the Nurburgring with McLaren in 2011 — the 16th of his 90 victories to date — and the race, brought back to fill gaps in a Covid19 ravaged calendar, is a home one for his Mercedes team.

Even if the 91st win proves elusive, the Briton can be expected to stretch his records for successive points finishes (43) and podiums (159) and maybe also poles (96).

The Nurburgring has not hosted a Formula One race since 2013, when Sebastian Vettel won on his way to a fourth championship with Red Bull, and this will be the latest ever at the circuit.

That means cold, and potentially rainy, conditions to add some uncertainty.

The Briton has a 44 point advantage over Bottas after 10 races and will be fancied to extend that if he can stay out of trouble with the stewards after being punished in Sochi for his practice starts. — Reuters