F1 Racing - UK (2020-03)

GP RACING MARCH 2020 39

When Lewis Hamiltonsealed his sixth world

drivers’ championship at last year’s United States

Grand Prix, hewas asked what he thought about

the prospect of equalling Michael Schumacher’s

all-time record ofseven. “It is all about how you

position your thoughtprocess,” Hamilton said.

“I have always said reaching Michael’s [tally]was

never atarget for me. I am not really one to think

of records and those kinds of things.

“I definitely thought getting anywhere near

Michael was so far-fetched. And I remember

having my one [championship] for along period

of time, thengetting a second one. It was so far

away and now it seems so close, yet it is so far

away that I still can’t reallyeven comprehend.

“The challenges that we’ll face in these coming

months, the next season – you look at these

other teamsthat have really been putting in some

astonishing performances in thesecond half

of the season. It’s going to take another load of

incredible performance and work from myself

and all thepeople who are around me and I really

don’t want to have to think about it right now.”

LewisHamilton says

he’s not interested in

history, and that

equalling or beating

Michael Schumacher’s

all-time record of seven

world championships

was never on his radar.

And yet he stands

on the cusp of doing

just that. Prodigiously

talented drivers both,

Michael andLewis enjoy

plenty of similarities

• but also key

differences, not least in

their eventful and often

controversial routes

to the top...

WORDSANDREW BENSON

HAMILTON VS

SCHUMACHER:

THE

PATH

TO

GREATNESS

At the time of writing, beforethe start of 2020

pre-season testing, Hamilton had not been asked

about the prospect again, but whenhe is, his

answer willdoubtless be a variation of the same.

He will talk about wanting to take one race at a

time, the strength of his opposition, how long the

season is, and how much effort it is going to take

to win the championship again. All of which will

be true. And yet, of course, he starts the season

as favourite to achieve exactly that.

Hamilton and Mercedes have so dominated

the hybridera of F1 since 2014 that he has

been winning an average of 10 races a year. If

Hamilton keeps up that scoring rate, he will not

only equal Schumacher’s seven titles this year,

but will become the most successful driver in

F1 history, by also surpassing the German’s

record of 91 wins. Lewis starts the year with 84.

This is monumental stuff, deserving of

contemplation and reflection. Two men.

Two careers. Similar results achieved in a very

different way, but with a pattern that contains

remarkable similarities.

Both made an instant impact when they

made their debuts in their early 20s: Schumacher

PICTURE by out-qualifying his Jordan team-mate Andrea

:DA

IMLER

MERCEDES

2020 SEASON PREVIEW

GP RACING MARCH 2020 39

When Lewis Hamiltonsealed his sixth world

drivers’ championship at last year’s United States

Grand Prix, hewas asked what he thought about

the prospect of equalling Michael Schumacher’s

all-time record ofseven. “It is all about how you

position your thoughtprocess,” Hamilton said.

“I have always said reaching Michael’s [tally]was

never atarget for me. I am not really one to think

of records and those kinds of things.

“I definitely thought getting anywhere near

Michael was so far-fetched. And I remember

having my one [championship] for along period

of time, thengetting a second one. It was so far

away and now it seems so close, yet it is so far

away that I still can’t reallyeven comprehend.

“The challenges that we’ll face in these coming

months, the next season – you look at these

other teamsthat have really been putting in some

astonishing performances in thesecond half

of the season. It’s going to take another load of

incredible performance and work from myself

and all thepeople who are around me and I really

don’t want to have to think about it right now.”

LewisHamilton says

he’s not interested in

history, and that

equalling or beating

Michael Schumacher’s

all-time record of seven

world championships

was never on his radar.

And yet he stands

on the cusp of doing

just that. Prodigiously

talented drivers both,

Michael and Lewis enjoy

plenty of similarities

• but also key

differences, not least in

their eventful and often

controversial routes

to the top...

WORDSANDREW BENSON

HAMILTON VS

SCHUMACHER:

THE

PATH

TO

GREATNESS

At the time of writing, beforethe start of 2020

pre-season testing, Hamilton had not been asked

about the prospect again, but whenhe is, his

answer willdoubtless be a variation of the same.
He will talk about wanting to take one race at a
time, the strength of his opposition, how long the
season is, and how much effort it is going to take
to win the championship again. All of which will
be true. And yet, of course, he starts the season
as favourite to achieve exactly that.
Hamilton and Mercedes have so dominated
the hybridera of F1 since 2014 that he has
been winning an average of 10 races a year. If
Hamilton keeps up that scoring rate, he will not
only equal Schumacher’s seven titles this year,
but will become the most successful driver in
F1 history, by also surpassing the German’s
record of 91 wins. Lewis starts the year with 84.
This is monumental stuff, deserving of
contemplation and reflection. Two men.
Two careers. Similar results achieved in a very
different way, but with a pattern that contains
remarkable similarities.
Both made an instant impact when they
made their debuts in their early 20s: Schumacher
PICTURE by out-qualifying his Jordan team-mate Andrea

:DA

IMLER

MERCEDES

2020 SEASON PREVIEW