F1: Lewis Hamilton in Michael Schumacher’s rear view mirror

Briton Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) will have the opportunity to get closer, to match or to beat several records held by German Michael Schumacher during the 2020 Formula 1 season, which begins on Sunday with the Austrian Grand Prix.

With seven world crowns (1994-1995, 2000-2004), Schumacher is the most successful driver in the history of F1. Sacred in 2008 and then in 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2019, Hamilton, 35, only points to one length. Only two other active pilots have been world champions: the German Sebastian Vettel (2000-2003), 33, and the Finnish Kimi Räikkönen (2007), 40.

With 84 victories in 250 GP, the Briton is seven successes from the German record (91 in 307 starts). However, since 2014 it has kept pace with an average of ten victories per year. Behind the Hamilton-Schumacher duo appears Vettel, but he is left behind with his 53 successes.

Schumacher’s 155 podium record is also within driving distance of the Mercedes driver, who has 151. In the 21 GP in 2019, Hamilton has missed the opportunity to get on the box only four times. Third in this ranking, Vettel has 120 podiums to its name.

Twenty-two times during his F1 career, the German legend has had pole position, fastest lap and victory in the same weekend. The Briton second with 15 hat tricks.

Schumacher’s record of 77 fastest laps in the race is stronger, Hamilton having only 47, Räikkönen 46 and Vettel 38, which places the German Ferrari in 5th position.

A master in the exercise of qualifications, the Mercedes driver is already the holder of two records ahead of Schumacher: that of pole positions (88 against 68 and 65 for the Brazilian Arton Senna) and first lines (145 against 116 and 101 for Vettel).

NLR: Michael Schumacher shares with Brazil’s Rubens Barrichello the record of 19 seasons in F1, while Hamilton begins his 14th year among the elite in 2020.