Lewis Hamilton closer to his seventh Formula One title
Lewis Hamilton departs the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola earlier this month with an enigmatic suggestion.
After his record-increasing 93rd win had him secure Mercedes seventh consecutive constructors championship, he may not return to racing in 2021.
Lewis Hamilton can set a record with the seventh drivers world title, position himself to be “the best of the best”.
Also set up long-awaited negotiations for a new Mercedes contract at this weekend’s Turkish Grand Prix.
He needs only to prevent his Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas outscoring him by eight points to retain his crown.
In the eyes of many, including former Ferrari rival Felipe Massa, Hamilton is closer to becoming the most successful racer in F1 history.
A seventh championship would level him with Ferrari’s team-mate Michael Schumacher for titles.
However, with the record for wins, poles and podiums, consecutive points finishes, Lewis Hamilton will already be the “greatest of all time”.
Massa, who himself miss out on a title triumph while Hamilton claiming his first in Sao Paulo in 2008, has no doubt that the Englishman, whose contract expires later this year, deserves it.
“Lewis can really be the best of the best and everybody will say that for years and years, or maybe decades.”- he told the F1 Nation podcast.
“So, I think he is just preparing his two or three-year contract, which I think he deserves.”
“He shows that he definitely deserves it. To be different from of the other drivers in terms of everything and even in terms of salary.”
Lewis Hamilton departs the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola earlier this month with an enigmatic suggestion that he may not return to racing in 2021.
Notions of retirement were confusing for his team chief Toto Wolff, who is also out of contract this year.
Massa suggests Hamilton is set for a new deal ahead with a salary increase.
“I remember when Michael was my team-mate and he was different.”
“Michael was completely different to everybody in terms of everything – in records, numbers and salary.”
“For sure, Michael helps many other racers to increase their salary. That’s what Lewis is, in my view, trying to do. I think he is ‘doing good’ and he deserves it.”
In the simplest terms, Hamilton will be champion again if he beats Bottas, who trails him by 85 points with four races remaining.
For the Finn to keep alive his own title bid, he must out-score Hamilton by nine points or more.
Given that Lewis Hamilton has beaten him at 10 of this year’s 13 races to date and has been in the points at a record 46 consecutive races, Bottas faces a daunting challenge.
Even if he wins on Sunday at the Istanbul Park Circuit, returning to the calendar for the first time since 2011, Hamilton can still take the title by finishing second and clocking the fastest lap.
