Lewis Hamilton.
Formula 1 is a sport filled with the best drivers in the world, and many historic drivers. One being Lewis Hamilton, a seven-time world champion known for his accomplishments in this sport, as well as his fashionable style on race days. Lastly, he is the best driver of recent decades. Does he have anything else to prove in Formula 1?
Have you ever heard of Formula 1?
The world’s most famous open-wheel racing series, known for its high innovation technology, global competition between iconic teams like Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren, and many others, all competing for the most points and winning the constructors’ championship. It is a sport with highly skilled drivers who are filled with passion and determination, with one main goal: to win the Formula 1 drivers’ championship. A sport also known for its iconic screaming V10 engines and highly aerodynamic, modified cars, allowing drivers to push beyond the limits of corners throughout iconic tracks like Spa, Silverstone, Monaco, and many more around the world.
This sport has had many legendary drivers throughout its history.
Many who are idols for drivers in the current Formula 1 grid, not only were these drivers determined, but they also set historic records to beat, and these drivers also left their mark in Formula 1. The drivers mentioned are none other than Michael Schumacher the so called “The red baron” a 7-time Formula 1 champion, Ayrton Senna also called “The rain master” with 3 Formula 1 championships to his name, and lastly Niki Lauda nicknamed “The rat” who also has 3 Formula 1 championships, being one of the most courageous drivers this sport has seen.
However, throughout this recent decade, we have witnessed yet another amazing driver.
A driver who not only almost won a championship in his rookie season but also proved the whole world wrong. He wiped the floor with prime Fernando Alonso, who had 2 world championships. This driver absolutely gained the attention of everyone from his rookie season at McLaren, since nobody had ever seen what this driver was delivering on track. He delivered his very first ever f1 race and won it, the following year he had done what every F1 driver dreams of doing, winning a Formula 1 championship.
This driver is none other than Sir Lewis Hamilton.
Did he stop there, you may ask? No, Lewis Hamilton went on and created records of his own. Equaling Michael Schumacher’s 7 world championships even surpassing him by setting the most career wins at 105, most pole (first place) positions at 104, and most podium finishes setting 202, not only that but Lewis Hamilton has the most wins in a single track, his home track located Silverstone, England having it won 9 times, this driver lead Mercedes’s domination era from 2014-2021 winning 8 consecutive constructors championships and 4 consecutive driver’s championship. Earning a very well-deserved place in the best of the best, if not the best there ever was, Lewis Hamilton is also the first black driver in Formula 1. Despite the racism he faced throughout his career, he dominated the sport like no other, being recognized by his achievements. Lewis Hamilton was knighted by King Charles III and the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle during a ceremony on December 15, 2021.
Controversial rule change at Abu Dhabi 2021.
Going into the final race of the Formula 1 2021 season, Lewis Hamilton was tied with another driver, Max Verstappen, for the championship; this race was the tiebreaker. Throughout the whole race, Lewis had absolutely everything to win his 8th title; however, as a safety car came out, the FIA (Federation International de Automobile) came to a rule change for this safety car, allowing lapped cars between Lewis and Max to unlap themselves, giving Max an extremely unfair advantage. While Lewis was on old, used tires, Max had pitted for new softs, ending the race as Max Verstappen won the championship. Many people say that Lewis lost it all in this race.
New regulations.
Coming into the new regulation era, cars were different, Lewis was impacted the most as his performance dropped, despite this, Lewis still won all his home races and had constant finishes within the top 10. Ever since that race in Abu Dhabi 2021, Lewis has lost so much; however, he had yet to prove himself by winning his 8th, which many claimed was robbed from him by the FIA. Fast forward to now after a recent change moving from Mercedes to Ferrari in hopes of being able to win his 8th title, giving his recent performance people are questioning whether Lewis has lost his passion for the sport, as his teammate in the same car has been finishing in the top 5 while Lewis has been struggling heavily having a very surprising DNF(Did Not Finish) in the Dutch grand prix. After many interviews throughout this season, one stood out the most as Sky Sports was interviewing Lewis, “I am useless,” Lewis Hamilton said after failing to qualify within the top 5 in Hungary.
Does he have anything else to prove?
Despite all the comments from many stating he should retire, or that he should never have left Mercedes, Lewis is still a top-tier driver who has already proven himself multiple times in this sport, going as far as equaling Michael Schumacher in Championships, beating multiple track records, and earning the most podium finishes. Lewis Hamilton has achieved what many drivers consider to be a dream one can only hope to achieve, leaving a huge legacy in this sport, leaving records for future drivers to break, very well, earning himself the title of one of the best Formula 1 drivers, if not the best Formula 1 driver we have ever seen.
