It might not have been a winning drive, but it was most assuredly that of a champion. The Circuit of the Americas near Austin, Texas, is one of the finest recent additions to the Formula 1 calendar, a function of its location, design and ability to generate an atmosphere commensurate with a grand prix’s status. An appropriate stage, then, for confirmed ‘Americophile’ Lewis Hamilton to celebrate becoming world champion driver for a sixth time, just one short of Michael Schumacher’s career tally.
He did it in some style, too, rising from fifth on the grid to finish second while teasing sufficient speed from a set of well-worn Pirellis. He was unable to resist Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas’s quicker two-stop strategy, but it was a controlled, measured performance that secured what was probably the best finish he could have achieved in the circumstances.
His coronation triggered a number of articles underlining how a sixth title ‘cemented his place among the all-time greats’ or bestowed him with some kind of ‘racing immortality’, but in truth it changed very little. He has simply added more numbers to a racing CV that confirmed such status several titles ago.
Hamilton turns 35 in January (as an indicator of the way the sport’s demographic has changed, Juan Manuel Fangio was 40 when he secured his first title and 46 when he annexed his fifth) but there is no indication that he plans to stop any time soon. Assuming that Mercedes doesn’t suddenly become uncompetitive overnight, Hamilton is likely at some point within the next 18 months to establish himself as the most successful driver of all time in terms of F1 victories – he had 83 after Austin, 61 of those achieved during F1’s current hybrid era, and thus requires only nine more to move ahead of Schumacher’s 91.
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I don't really see the
I don't really see the relevance of Fangio's age for an ear comparison. 40 was hardly the norm back then.
Irrespective, Lewis is of course great, but he is cursed to live in an era where very few people care anymore.
When was the last time you heard someone talking about a Grand Prix? There are of course still some die-hard fans, but in a general sense, who won the race on Sunday really isn' t news any more.
I blame Bernie for fleecing it, Liberty for turning it in to a cheap circus that can't easily be watched, and Mercedes for destroying the atmoshpere with their pointless attempts to seek relevance with these horrific little engines.
Jackie Stewart....
He won his three championships , how many races did he win to ?.....77. a shit driver in his car won't be a winner, a good driver in a bad car will achieve better results, but, won't turn it into winning Car.
Currently ...
Hamilton is the best just now, that's fair, all other champions were the same, you can't compare them because all the criteria are different,and like said , unless Mercedes suddenly become an also ran, there's no reason he can't keep winning.