Hamilton has Schumacher’s F1 title record in crosshairs

It’s become routine in Formula One – another year, another Lewis Hamilton World Championship.

Indeed, the six-time champ is once again leading the points race in the prestigious international openwheel racing series, at this writing sitting 55 points ahead of his closest pursuer, Valtteri Bottas, at the season’s midpoint. Of course, there are still 10 races to go but if this year holds to recent form, he’ll be celebrating his seventh F1 title (and fourth in succession) in Abu Dhabi in December.

That would tie him for most career titles with Michael Schumacher, the retired German driver whom many (including Hamilton) regard as the greatest of all time. It would also be another laurel in the the 35-year-old Brit’s storied 14-year F1 career.

And those are many. In addition to the six World Championships, Hamilton owns 90 career victories (second all-time), as well as records for career points (3,621), poles (95) and podium finishes (158) plus season marks for grand slams (three) and points (413). It wouldn’t be an understatement to say he’s F1’s Michael Jordan.

And as highly regarded as he is in racing circles, he’s also well known away from the track, being credited with raising Formula One’s profile to a broader world audience and being involved in environmental and social causes.

Sunday, Oct. 11, on ESPN2, Formula One returns to the Nurburgring in Germany after a sevenyear absence, where Hamilton goes for his second victory of 2020 on the 3.2-mile, 15-turn road course in the Aramco Eifel Grand Prix.