Lewis Hamilton created history on Sunday as he won the Russian Grand Prix and became the first racer in the history of Formula One to register 100 wins in the sport.
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Lewis Hamilton is currently tied with Schumacher for seven F1 titles. If he wins in 2021, he will go to eight which will put him on top even there. If the history and record books of F1 are rewritten, then Hamilton is the key factor for it. When one looks at the list of motorsport records, Giacomo Agostini has won eight MotoGP titles. If Hamilton wins this, then he will equal the new benchmark in this sport altogether.
Hamilton has signed a two-year contract extension with Mercedes. That means until the 2023 season, he can potentially break even more records. He can extend his wins and title streak in a way that might make it impossible for anyone to even catch up with him. The likes of Max Verstappen and potentially Lando Norris and Pierre Gasly might have to race for a long time to even come close to Hamilton.
If Verstappen gets a great car and his aggression is controlled in the right way, then he is the only driver to potentially match Hamilton’s tally. There is no doubt that in the near future, Verstappen is an F1 title winner. The only question is, when! With Hamilton dominating in such a great way, Verstappen’s wait will have to get longer.
The fact that Lewis Hamilton is pushing the barriers of excellence is a true testament to his character. He has always been outspoken on lot of issues, has been blunt when it comes to certain occasions. The fact that off the track, he has contributed a bit more than his on-field performances makes him an alluring character.
In the past, the likes of Jackie Stewart, Jim Clark, Nigel Mansell, James Hunt, and Damon Hill have been the torch-bearers for British racing. But, Hamilton has totally changed the landscape of motorsport and ensured Britain now has some great drivers. With Lando Norris and George Russell now performing magnificently, the future of British Motorsports looks promising.
The development is all thanks to the achievements of Hamilton. He has crossed the barrier of excellence in such a way that future generations will make him the gold standard. With Hamilton’s achievements, the benchmark of dominance has shifted. Schumacher was the original gold standard. But, this win in Russia has ensured Hamilton remains the new benchmark.
For now, the world can revel at the brilliance of Hamilton. The magnitude can be summed up by the quotes of Toto Wolff, the Team Principal after the race. “That 100th race victory is just mind-blowing. Today we talk about it – it’s going to be in the news for 24 hours – but only 20 years down the line we are going to realize that we’ve been part of that,” Wolff said after the win in Russia. Indeed, with the passage of time, Hamilton’s achievements will be mind-boggling.
