Significance of 91 F1 wins still sinking in
MOTORSPORT
NURBURG: Lewis Hamilton said equalling Michael Schumacher's Formula One win record with a 91st victory yesterday was beyond his wildest dreams.
The Briton, heading for a seventh title and set to become the sport’s most successful driver of all time after his Eifel Grand Prix victory at the Nuerburgring, said his achievement would take time to sink in.
Schumacher’s records once seemed sure to stand for the ages, but only a brave punter would bet against Mercedes driver Hamilton reaching 100 wins and more.
‘‘I don’t know how it is for other drivers when they have these wins but it takes some time for you to analyse it and for it to sink in, to realise what it actually means,’’ the 35yearold said.
‘‘Like all of us, I grew up watching Michael win all of those grands prix and I couldn’t have fathomed equalling him.
‘‘I think getting to Formula One was the first step of the dream and obviously emulating [Brazilian triple champion] Ayrton [Senna]. But Michael was just so far ahead.’’
The win was not the only milestone Hamilton reached. He also stretched his records for successive points finishes (44) and most podiums (160).
Hamilton said winning did not get easier, even if luck was on his side with teammate and closest rival Valtteri Bottas retiring due to a power unit problem, and it had not been easy for Schumacher either.
‘‘What he did at both the teams he was at, particularly Ferrari, was just remarkable,’’ Hamilton said of the Ferrari great, who retired in 2012 after a final stint with Mercedes.
‘‘It’s hard for people to perhaps fully understand how hard it was for him to have got those 91 wins, to deliver weekend in weekend out, year on year, and stay so physically in shape and so precise.
‘‘I understand that now more than ever.’’ — Reuters