Formula 1: Lewis Hamilton poised to break a ton of records in 2020

Lewis Hamilton became a six-time Formula 1 world champion in 2019, putting himself in position to break several all-time records in 2020.

Lewis Hamilton’s dominance during the V6 turbo hybrid era of Formula 1 continued in 2019 with him winning his third consecutive world championship and his fifth in six attempts since the era began back in 2014.

Now a six-time champion, the 35-year-old Briton continues to make history, and he has a chance to make even more history in 2020 by breaking several more records.

At this point, the only driver he really trails in any of the major statistical categories is Michael Schumacher. In total, there are seven historically significant records held by Schumacher that he can break and two more that he could tie next season.

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Three of these seven records are practically locks while two should go Hamilton’s way in 2020 and another two are longshots.

As for the three that are practically locks, first is the podium finishes record. Schumacher holds that record with 155 while Hamilton sits in second place with 151. He has not recorded fewer than five podium finishes in any of the first 13 seasons of his career, and he has not recorded fewer than 13 in any of the last six seasons.

Secondly, there is the wins record. Schumacher holds that record with 91 while Hamilton sits in second place with 84. He has not won fewer than nine races in a season at any point in the last six years, five times recording double-digit win totals.

Finally, there is the points finishes record. Schumacher holds that record with 221 while Hamilton sits in second place with 213. Needing nine top 10 finishes to break the record, it would be shocking if Hamilton didn’t break it by the ninth race of the 21-race 2020 season.

As for the two records that should go Hamilton’s way, first is the pole positions at a single race record. Schumacher, Ayrton Senna and Hamilton are currently tied for that record with eight, with Schumacher pulling it off at the Japanese Grand Prix and Senna pulling it off at the San Marino Grand Prix.

Hamilton has a chance to break it with what would be his seventh consecutive pole position and ninth overall for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

The other one is the most wins with the same team record. Schumacher holds that record with 72 wins for Ferrari while Hamilton has won 63 races since coming to Mercedes, including 62 in the last six years. As stated, he has not won fewer than nine races in a season during the last six years, and he has recorded a double-digit win tally in five of the last six.

As for the two long shots, first is the hattricks (pole position, win and fastest lap in the same race) record. Schumacher holds that record with 22 while Hamilton sits in second place with 15. It’s not impossible, but with just one in the last two years, it’s unlikely that Hamilton will record eight in one season.

Finally, there is the laps led record. Schumacher holds that record with 5,111 laps led while Hamilton sits in second place with 4,486. Hamilton trails Schumacher by 615, but he has never led more than 587 laps in a season. With the 2020 season set to tie the all-time record 21 races, he has a chance to change that.

As for the two records that Hamilton can tie, the first one is obvious: world championships. Schumacher leads all drivers with seven career titles, and Hamilton is the only other six-time champion. A fourth consecutive title and sixth in seven years would be his seventh.

The second one is less obvious, and that is the most wins at the same race. Schumacher holds that record with eight victories in the French Grand Prix while Hamilton is a seven-time winner of the Canadian Grand Prix and a seven-time winner of the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Hamilton could also be in a position to break Jim Clark’s Grand Chelem record (pole position, win lead every lap and fastest lap in the same race) of eight after recording his sixth in the 2019 season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

This was just his first Grand Chelem since 2017, but he recorded three in 2017, his least winningest season of the V6 turbo hybrid era, and has recorded all of his six in the last six years.

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How many of these records will Lewis Hamilton tie and/or break in the 2020 Formula 1 season? The season is scheduled to get underway on Sunday, March 15 at Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit in Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia with the Australian Grand Prix.

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