After his 7th title, is Hamilton changing dimensions again?

One week later, the F1 paddock and all the followers had time to digest Lewis Hamilton’s 94th victory. An epic triumph, which we recounted, and which certainly ranks among the 15 greatest successes of the Briton (the 5 major victories in this article and this article!). The cherry on top of a cake worthy of a masterpiece, to validate the 7th world championship title for drivers. Today, Lewis Hamilton is on the same level as Michael Schumacher, at the top of the Formula 1 pantheon. Has he taken another step forward?

Higher and higher in sports

Even with the most high-performing car on the grid, Lewis Hamilton manages to amaze us. Naturally fast in qualifying, reliable, with a streak of 47 consecutive races in the points since finishing 2nd at Silverstone in July 2018, the Brit has also maximized over the years an unparalleled race intelligence and perfect tire management. A new example at the height of the Turkish storm: on a greasy-wet track, new and soaked by the rain, driver #44 did not stop for a new tire change. He had the instinct to stay on track, while the Racing Point team, despite being in a position of strength, collapsed with Lance Stroll.

Hamilton himself recalled it in the post-race press conference at Istanbul Park: he thought about his old demons, left in a gravel trap in China in 2007, costing him his first world championship title. Without this rookie mishap, he would have already surpassed Schumacher with an 8th title.

But since then, who can blame him for a fatal error in the title race? The loss of the crown in 2016? One first thinks of that engine failure in Sepang, beyond his control. 4 years later, Hamilton could have stumbled, in a 2020 season that was peculiar, tightened with the coronavirus epidemic.

The Mercedes leader only hesitated during the first race of the season in Austria (4th), apologizing after forcing the trajectory against Alex Albon on the outside, in turn 4. Victorious soon after in Styria, repeating in Hungary and Great Britain, he also won at Silverstone with a puncture and a final lap on 3 wheels. By the end of August, Hamilton had collected 5 victories in 7 races, with a 2nd place for the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix, behind Verstappen.

Passed through Monza with a surprising penalty at the beginning of September, the ex-McLaren driver resumed his forward march with victories in Tuscany, Germany (Eifel Grand Prix), Portugal (92nd win, surpassing Michael Schumacher’s record), and another opportunistic 1st place in Emilia-Romagna at the Imola circuit. Ultimately, in 14 races, before the triple-header in the Middle East, Hamilton has already claimed victory… 10 times, making it the 3rd best ratio in history, behind Alberto Ascari in 1952 (6/8: 75%), Michael Schumacher in 2004 (13/18: 72.22%)!

And the naysayers will continue to say that he wins because he has the best car. But in Turkey, the Mercedes W11 clearly struggled to heat up its tires. Valtteri Bottas can testify!

Hamilton has already won 10 times in 2020, which is the 3rd best ratio in history, behind Alberto Ascari in 1952 and Michael Schumacher in 2004!

F1 taken to new territory

The 7th world championship title for Lewis Hamilton goes beyond the mere scope of sporting performance in Formula 1. 7 titles, Schumacher’s record equaled, the Mercedes driver has enhanced the performance by winning 6 seasons out of 7!

Naturally, the other drivers hailed the crowning achievement, with a significant tribute from Sebastian Vettel, who is attached to the history of his discipline:

« I think that Lewis is obviously the best driver of our generation. How do you want to compare Juan Manuel Fangio or Stirling Moss to our generation? It’s impossible and even pointless. Maybe we would be bad and mess ourselves in their cars. But maybe they would be bad in ours because they are too fast. Who knows? It doesn’t matter. »

« Each era has its driver or drivers, and Lewis is certainly the best of our era. »

A slightly more recent tribute, George Russell spoke on the official F1 Podcast, “F1 Nation”, lacking superlatives: “He doesn’t just wake up on Sunday morning thinking he’ll be the fastest. He puts in an incredible amount of effort and I believe he doesn’t get enough recognition for it. It has increased my respect for him!” admitted the Williams driver, trained by Mercedes.

But beyond the sport, Hamilton is innovative for a Formula 1 world champion by fighting for equality through the Black Lives Matter movement, which he has placed on his helmet and even on his car. Initially grey, the Mercedes has turned black at the driver’s request, approved by the Daimler group and the team’s sponsors, showing the driver’s impact on his team.

Same across the grid, with the protocol extending to honor a minute against racism, Hamilton taking a knee, followed by a few of his peers. In his victory in Turkey, there were these words on the radio: he hopes to have sent a message of hope to all children, regardless of their skin color.

When Michael Schumacher did not engage in social and political fields, Hamilton is a driver and a modern-day activist. He wants to take F1 into a new dimension, beyond his comfort as a champion. He has already started by creating the Hamilton Commission, in partnership with the Royal Academy of Engineering, to promote diversity in motorsport engineering careers.

After his jet-set and bling-bling era, Hamilton has become vegan and is considering his environmental impact. Paradoxical for an F1 driver? The champion is evolving with his times: in the negotiations for his new contract, he even asked to travel less by plane and do more remote work! This should not stop his quest for an 8th driver’s title. Beyond the stats, Hamilton wants to lead F1 into a more responsible era.

« I think Lewis is obviously the best driver of our generation » – Sebastian Vettel

A new dimension, especially mental

The new dimension that Hamilton has entered is actually more mental than sporting. On the sporting front, the discipline is mostly a continuation of the hybrid era that began in 2014. What is striking is this extended domination… over 7 seasons, no other constructor has done better in the history of Formula 1.

Clearly, Hamilton’s dimension has grown to an incredible strength.

To personify their sport. Like Usain Bolt in Athletics, Roger Federer in Tennis, Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo in football, Tiger Woods in golf… or the Frenchman Martin Fourcade in biathlon. In 20, 50 years or even more, we will certainly remember the 2010s-early 2020s as the peak years of Hamilton’s strength.

Now, there are still a few incredible performances to aim for: Sébastien Loeb, for example, has won 9 world titles in the World Rally Championship. In Endurance racing, Tom Kristensen has claimed 9 victories in the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans race. And why not set a new horizon beyond an 8th World Drivers’ Championship title?