Quote:
Originally Posted by Artemis
Hamilton has most F1 records and these will last a long time. Been driving the best car on the grid since 2014 (the one of 2008 was no slouch either) and got helped by the most indulgent team mate since 2017.
But he has been dethroned by a guy in - at last - a competitive car who's 12 years younger than him (still an F1 career of 10-15 years ahead of him) and who set the record of most P1-P2 podiums in a season: - Lewis Hamilton | 07/01/1985 | 36 yr (almost 37 yr)
WDC #1 2008 = 23 yr | WDC #2 2014 = 29 yr
7 P1-P2 podiums (5 victories) in WDC #1 2008
longevity: likely another 2 seasons (2022 + 2023)
- Max Verstappen | 30/09/1997 | 24 yr
WDC #1 2021 = 24 yr | WDC #2 ...2027 ?
18 P1-P2 podiums (10 victories) in WDC #1 2021
longevity: likely another 10-15 seasons
Not unlikely that Mercedes-AMG will try to sign Verstappen to replace Hamilton for 2024. In a July 2021 interview ex F1-driver Ralf Schumacher explained that he assumes that Mercedes-AMG negotiated with Verstappen to replace Hamilton for 2022. As no deal materialized, Hamilton got signed, later than usual and as second choice, for 2022 and 2023:
"Sport Bild: Ist die Vertragsverlängerung von Hamilton bis 2023 gut oder schlecht für seinen Titelrivalen Verstappen?
Schumacher: „Für mich heißt das vor allem, dass Max bei Mercedes abgesagt hat. Ich glaube, bei Mercedes gab es die Hoffnung, sich mit Max im Cockpit für die Zukunft ganz neu auszurichten. Die ist jetzt gestorben, und dann war Lewis meiner Meinung nach die einzige Alternative. Red Bull hat jetzt mit Max Verstappen eine großartige Zeit vor sich. Bei Mercedes hingegen …“" ( here).
If that unconfirmed rumor/assumption would be true, it must have galvanized Hamilton to absolutely beat his nemesis Verstappen in 2021. According to Helmut Marko Verstappen will never drive for Mercedes-AMG after what happened at Silverstone on July 18, 2021 (51G crash + abundant celebration). Jos Verstappen confirmed this month that Max will never drive for Mercedes-AMG as long as Toto Wolff is still in charge. Reason: they won't forgive Wolff's behavior after the Silverstone crash (see here).
F1 2021 drivers - Age: - 01 | 17/10/1979 | Kimi Räikkönen
- 02 | 29/07/1981 | Fernando Alonso
- 03 | 07/01/1985 | Lewis Hamilton
- 04 | 03/07/1987 | Sebastian Vettel
- 05 | 01/07/1989 | Daniel Ricciardo
- 06 | 28/08/1989 | Valtteri Bottas
- 07 | 26/01/1990 | Sergio Perez
- 08 | 14/12/1993 | Antonio Giovinazzi
- 09 | 01/09/1994 | Carlos Sainz
- 10 | 29/06/1995 | Nicolas Latifi
- 11 | 07/02/1996 | Pierre Gasly
- 12 | 17/09/1996 | Esteban Ocon
- 13 | 30/09/1997 | Max Verstappen
- 14 | 16/10/1997 | Charles Leclerc
- 15 | 15/02/1998 | George Russell
- 16 | 29/10/1998 | Lance Stroll
- 17 | 02/03/1999 | Nikita Mazepin
- 18 | 22/03/1999 | Mick Schumacher
- 19 | 13/11/1999 | Lando Norris
- 20 | 11/05/2000 | Yuki Tsunoda
Also: - 27/06/1985 | Nico Rosberg
- 19/08/1987 | Nico Hulkenberg
- 26/03/1992 | Stoffel Vandoorne
- 06/02/1995 | Nyck de Vries
- 23/03/1996 | Alex Albon
- 16/09/1999 | Robert Shwartzman
- 06/04/2001 | Oscar Piastri
2021:
Attachment 2777067 |
Would have been many many more laps led if not for Silverstone Ham hit, baku tyre explode and Hungary Bot concertina hit which Bot says was unavoidable on a wet track clearly seing Norris and the countdown markers for the bend.