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Lewis Hamilton believes he can reach even greater heights after having surpassed Michael Schumacher’s record for Formula One racing victories following his victory at the Portuguese Grand Prix. The British rider scored a resounding victory at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve and is now also within walking distance of Schumacher’s record of seven world championships.
Hamilton won at Portimão despite losing the lead in the opening laps, but came back with a masterful display, snatching the flag 25 seconds from his Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas. The British driver was finally in a league of his own in Portugal and enjoyed an emotional celebration of his 92nd victory when he finally surpassed Schumacher as the most successful F1 driver in all racing victories.
The world champion praised his Mercedes team and insisted that he and they were eager for more. “I don’t believe in the saying ‘the sky’s the limit,'” he said. “It depends on how much we want it, how much we want to keep raising the bar and following our history together, the way we work, we don’t lag behind in our results, we keep working, we keep rising. Every race feels like the first. I don’t know how it is possible after all these races, but it is like that. “
Hamilton now leads Bottas by 77 points in the world championship. If he is 78 points ahead of the Turkish Grand Prix, which takes place after the next round in Imola, he will secure his seventh title.
The Brit has yet to sign a new contract with Mercedes, but is clearly motivated to continue. He has enthusiastically embraced the cause against racism and has been a driving force in propelling F1 and Mercedes to push for greater diversity. Initiatives that have only left him excited to continue in F1.
“We have to use our position as a company, as a business leader for inclusion, for diversity, there is a lot of work to do, that keeps me inspired,” he said. “It keeps my teammates continually growing, my fans learning through this process with all of us, and our sport is slowly changing. It is a really special moment. I definitely wonder, well, I’m 35 years old. I still feel physically strong, but of course you wonder when it’s going to capsize and you start to lose performance, but today it still isn’t. “
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who was third, believes Hamilton will far exceed Schumacher’s records. “It’s an incredible achievement 92 wins and he will go over 100,” he said. “It’s amazing, it looks like he will also get seven world titles, which is very impressive.
