Lewis Hamilton will be gunning for a 100th win in Formula One and that will only enhance his legendary status as he prepares to do well at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
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100 Grand Prix wins! That is the record that Lewis Hamilton will be facing when the Hungarian Grand Prix begins on Sunday. After winning the British Grand Prix for the eighth time, Lewis Hamilton now stands on 99 F1 wins. A win in Hungary, where he has also won eight times, might be the perfect venue, to sum up his brilliance in the sport. 2021 is a big year for Lewis Hamilton. He is now one win away from becoming the first driver in history to win 100 Grand Prix races in the sport. If he wins the world title, he will be the first individual to have won eight F1 titles and overhaul the record set by Michael Schumacher.
The records in 2021 might redefine Lewis Hamilton as one of the greatest in the business. The tally of 100 wins will make Hamilton the first. If Hamilton wins in Hungary, he will be the first individual in the history of F1 to win a race nine times, breaking the 15-year record set by Michael Schumacher. The German won eight French Grand Prix races, with his last win coming in 2006.
Hamilton is remarkable in the fact that he is the only player to win two F1 Grand Prix races eight times. When he won the British Grand Prix in 2021 despite a controversial collision with Max Verstappen, he won the race for the eighth time. In addition to Hungary, Hamilton became the first driver to win two races eight times.
With 100 pole positions, 100 F1 wins would totally change the meaning of greatness in the case of Hamilton. There comes a decade in which records are rewritten in the sport of F1. Juan Manuel Fangio’s record was held for 53 years until Schumacher broke it. But, in the span of 18 years, Hamilton is on the cusp of breaking it. In this season, he faces a stern test from Max Verstappen, who is leading the championship.
Hamilton potentially has only one more season left and he will want to make the most of 2021. Not winning the World Championship might be disappointing for Hamilton as he would want to end as the most successful driver in the history of the sport. If one has to match Schumacher, then Hamilton has tied him for most consecutive seasons with at least one Grand Prix win. Schumacher had his streak from 1992 to 2006 which totaled 15 years. Hamilton has leveled it from 2007 to 2021. If he races and wins in 2022, then he will have one more record.
One can argue that the cars in the era of Schumacher are different than the one Hamilton is in. But, one has to even utilize the technology to the hilt to make it a big success. Hamilton has also not had success easy. His first F1 title came in the most dramatic circumstances in Brazil. A mistake from one driver two corners away from the finish line was the only time Hamilton was assured of the world title.
After that, he had to play second fiddle to Sebastian Vettel who won four consecutive F1 titles from 2010 to 2013. It is only from 2014 onwards that he established a level of dominance unseen in the sport. From 2014 till 2020, he has won six out of the seven F1 titles. The only blip came in 2016 when Nico Rosberg won the title but Hamilton was in the fray until the very end.
In many ways, Hamilton’s struggles are like Michael Schumacher’s. The German legend had to wait five years for his next title after winning in 1994 and 1995. In 1994, he did not get the title the easy way. In the final race, he collided with Damon Hill and that ensured he got the title. 1995 was dominant but from 1996 to 1999, he had to endure plenty of heartbreaks, controversy and issues.
Hamilton had to also wait five years for his next title after winning in 2008. Since then, he has made every opportunity count. If Hamilton achieves the win in Hungary, it will be a testament to his brilliance and endurance. F1 is truly privileged to have seen such a record-breaking spree.
