LONDON (Reuters) – One retirement might change the whole lot however the statistics are stacking up for Crimson Bull’s Max Verstappen as he seeks to disclaim Lewis Hamilton a report eighth Formulation One championship this season.
Sunday’s U.S. Grand Prix victory L1N2RK0GH at Austin’s Circuit of the Americas was the 24-year-old Dutch driver’s eighth from 17 of twenty-two races, in comparison with 5 for Mercedes’ seven instances world champion.
Seasons have extra races now however solely as soon as within the 70-year historical past of the championship has anybody received eight instances and never ended up as champion.
That exception was Hamilton, who received 10 instances in 2016 however misplaced out to German crew mate Nico Rosberg after a down-to-the-wire battle.
Austin additionally noticed Verstappen prolong a report that will not be his for lengthy.
No different driver has ever had so many profession wins with out profitable a title, Verstappen’s 18 nicely forward of late British nice Stirling Moss’s 16.
With 5 races remaining, Hamilton can’t match his 2020, 2019 and 2018 tallies of 11 wins and the Briton will battle to match even his worst of the Mercedes-dominated V6 turbo hybrid period — 9 in 2017.
Verstappen can nonetheless equal the report held collectively by Michael Schumacher (2004) and Sebastian Vettel (2013) of 13 wins in a season.
The teen is forward of Hamilton 9-3 on pole positions and 13-12 on podium finishes, with the Briton forward 5-4 on quickest laps.
STABLE HEAD
“Though Lewis has the expertise of already profitable world titles, I do not actually see that as a bonus now,” Australian Daniel Ricciardo mentioned in speaking about former crew mate Verstappen’s maturity.
“I do suppose Max is able to it, he is acquired a reasonably steady head on his shoulders now and he is confirmed that with a few of the drives he is finished this 12 months.”
If extra omens are required, Hamilton has by no means received the title when not main the championship going into Austin, a circuit the place he had received 5 instances in eight years and clinched two crowns.
This 12 months he was six factors behind Verstappen, a spot now prolonged to 12.
“I might by no means declare this a foregone conclusion at this stage of the season,” 1996 champion Damon Hill advised Sky Sports activities tv on Monday.
“There’s so many mishaps that occur in our sport and 25 factors on the desk for a victory however nothing for those who do not end, and that may clearly occur.
“He (Hamilton) actually has to start out profitable once more. It is eight versus 5 in victories to Max, so it’s wanting prefer it’s Max’s title in the meanwhile.”
The following two races are in Mexico and Brazil, each seen as favouring Crimson Bull, earlier than a Center East triple in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi.
Qatar and Saudi are floodlit evening races new to the calendar.
(Reporting by Alan Baldwin, enhancing by Ken Ferris)
