Lewis Hamilton begins his pursuit of an eighth Formula One Drivers’ Championship with the Bahrain Grand Prix in Sakhir this weekend. The seven-time world champion can surpass Michael Schumacher for the most titles of all time having drawn level with the legendary German in 2020. Express Sport looks at some of the other records of Schumacher’s that the Briton will be looking to break this season.
MOST DRIVERS’ CHAMPIONSHIPS
As already mentioned, the big one Hamilton goes into 2021 chasing – an eighth Drivers’ Championship.
Red Bull and Max Verstappen will be looking to deny the Mercedes driver after a strong pre-season at the Bahrain International Circuit, however.
But Hamilton boasts sublime race-craft and will be confident of racking up race wins even if their rivals put up a stronger challenge this year.
The 36-year-old has won a minimum of 11 races in all of his past three seasons, although this year will comprise of a 23-race calendar – at least two more than in any other season Hamilton has competed.
MOST CONSECUTIVE DRIVERS’ CHAMPIONSHIPS
Hamilton has absolutely dominated the hybrid engine era of F1 at Mercedes, winning six of seven available titles.
Since Nico Rosberg retired in 2016, Hamilton has won all four available championships.
Valtteri Bottas has finished well adrift in second in both of the last two seasons and Hamilton is bidding to match Schumacher as only the second driver ever to clinch five straight triumphs.
Schumacher did so with Ferrari from 2000 to 2004 and if he matches the German’s feat of five straight this year, Hamilton can go for a record-breaking six on the spin in 2022.
MOST WINS IN A SINGLE SEASON
Hamilton can clinch 100 race wins in 2021 having racked up 95 across his 14 seasons in the sport so far, at an average of 6.7 a year.
But the Briton has never managed what Schumacher has by winning more than 11 races in a single season.
Hamilton’s best was mustering 11 in 2014, 2018, 2019 and 2020, the most recent perhaps the most impressive given the season only consisted of 17 races.
MOST ‘HAT-TRICKS’
Schumacher has the most F1 hat-tricks of all time on 22.
A hat-trick is defined as qualifying on pole, winning the race and also managing fastest lap all at the same Grand Prix.
Hamilton is just behind Schumacher on 18 and could catch and surpass the former Mercedes driver this season.
Vettel is the only other current driver with a significant amount but has only managed eight hat-tricks – behind Jim Clark (11) and Juan Manuel Fangio (nine).
MOST WINS AT ONE GRAND PRIX
No-one has dominated a race like Schumacher has the French Grand Prix or Hamilton has the Hungarian Grand Prix.
The pair have won both events eight times and Hamilton can make it nine in Hungary in 2021, which would make him the most successful driver ever at one race.
He is also looking to claim eighth career victories at the British Grand Prix and Canadian Grand Prix.
Hamilton can also make if five straight wins at the Spanish Grand Prix in 2021, which would see him tie Ayrton Senna for most consecutive victories at the same race (Monaco 1989-1993).