Lewis Hamilton is just two races away from history.
If he wins the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix this weekend and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on December 12, he will overtake Michael Schumacher as the driver with the most Formula 1 World Championships ever, with eight. His dominance in recent years has led to many arguing that he already is the greatest to ever take to the track, but if he were to overtake the great Schumacher in Drivers Championship wins, the debate may be settled. This season has been a nail biter, as Hamilton and his closest rival Max Verstappen of Red Bull have been trading blows all season, and just eight points separates them at the top of the table with two races left on the calendar. Those backing Hamilton to take home the title can do so using this list of betting apps.
Hamilton's battle with the Dutch Verstappen this season has been one for the ages, with both drivers battling for the first position throughout the season. Just one month ago after Verstappen had won the United States GP and the Mexican GP it seemed as if Verstappen had the title basically wrapped up, but Hamilton showed his brilliance and experience to win the Brazilian GP and Qatar QP to close the gap at the top of the drivers standings. Other highlights from this season include a home victory in an enthralling race at Silverstone in the British GP and his victory on a very wet day in Sochi, when Hamilton fell as low as seventh place but battled back to win the Russian GP. That win was his 100th win in Formula 1, making him the first person to achieve this feat. This reignited the debate of who the greatest driver of all time is, and Hamilton already has a huge claim to that throne, despite many still maintaining that Michael Schmacher cannot be passed.
The statistics are in Hamilton's favour
When it comes to who the greatest driver ever is in terms of statistics, there is no doubting Lewis Hamilton's credentials. Hamilton has 102 Grand Prix victories in 286 race entries, good for a win percentage of a staggering 35.66% win percentage. In comparison to Michael Schumacher's 91 wins in 308 race entries - a 29.55% win percentage, Hamilton has the German great beaten handily. Hamilton also beats Schumacher in total pole positions, with 102 to Schumacher's 68. The Brit leads all-time in points scoring finishes with 247 and has the highest ever average points per race entered, he also has the highest number of races all-time where he has led for every lap. Long story short, Hamilton is the greatest statistical driver ever, and there isn't really any debate. No one, not Ayrton Senna, Juan Michael Fangio, Michael Schumacher, Jackie Stewart or Alain Prost hold a candle to Hamilton's greatness when it comes to the numbers.
Hamilton is a great champion outside the car too
While the numbers back him up as an all-time great of the sport Lewis Hamilton's legacy will be more than just the races he has won and the pole positions he has earned. He has been outwardly vocal on huge issues such as social justice, climate change and racial inequality. In the 2020 season, Hamilton took the knee before every race in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, and gave an impassioned plea to fans and prominent figures in the world of Formula 1 on instagram, writing: "I see those of you who are staying silent, some of you the biggest of stars yet you stay silent in the midst of injustice. Not a sign from anybody in my industry which of course is a white dominated sport. I'm one of the only people of colour there yet I stand alone... I would have thought by now you would see why this happens and say something about it but you can't stand alongside us. Just know I know who you are and I see you". Following this statement, many other drivers supported Hamilton, and the managing director of Formula 1 Ross Brawn stated that they were in full support of Hamilton, and that they were working to increase diversity in the sport. Hamilton is serious about supporting young Black people aiming to get into Formula 1, whether it be drivers or back-room staff such as those hoping to be engineers and aerodynamicists that he's given his commission $30 million of his own money to help make this change happen.Hamilton has also been active in philanthropy regarding the environment, animal rights and climate change. Not only is he a great driver, his legacy is more than just what has happened on the track, but off it too.
So where will he rank by the end of his career?
With over 100 victories in Grand Prix's and seven world titles, he's already got an argument for the greatest of all time. If he wins his next two races and subsequently overtakes Schumacher with eight world titles, his legacy as the greatest will be further entrenched. The battle between him and Verstappen this season has been one of the tightest fights for a drivers championship we have ever seen and it has been neck and neck all season, with ebbs and flows for each driver. If Hamilton can take the title it would be hard to argue against him being the greatest ever, but it's what he has done off the track that could cement his legacy as one of Britain's greatest sportspeople. When he does finally decide to retire, we may finally realise what a true great he is.
