Formula 1: The record that nobody is talking about

By Asher Fair | Sep 26, 2020

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, Formula 1 (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images) /

Lewis Hamilton is positioned to tie Michael Schumacher’s all-time Formula 1 wins record in the Russian Grand Prix this weekend. But you already knew that.

After several years of sitting in second place on the all-time Formula 1 wins list, Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton has a chance to tie the record set by Michael Schumacher, a record that was far greater than any other wins amount in the sport’s history when it was set.

Hamilton, who took second place away from Alain Prost with his 53rd career victory in the 2016 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit, is set to enter this weekend’s Russian Grand Prix at Sochi Autodrom with 90 career victories, one shy of Schumacher’s all-time record of 91.

The fact that Hamilton has won four of the six races around the 18-turn, 3.634-mile (5.848-kilometer) road course in Sochi, Krasnodar Krai, Russia, including the last two, coupled with the fact that Mercedes have won all six races that have been contested there bode well for him this weekend, which he enters having accounted for Mercedes’ most recent six victories.

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But there is another record that is set to be tied this weekend, and that record does not hinge on beating 19 other drivers over the course of 53 laps.

It hinges on the ability of the sport’s lone quadragenarian being able to start the race, something that he knows how to do better than almost everybody in Formula 1 history.

Alfa Romeo’s Kimi Raikkonen is set to enter this race with 321 starts to his name going back to his rookie year in 2001. The 40-year-old Finn competed in Formula 1 from 2001 to 2009 before taking a two-year hiatus and then returning in 2012. He is now in his ninth consecutive and 18th overall season of competition in the sport, and he is one start shy of Rubens Barrichello’s all-time record of 322.

Upon signing a two-year deal with Alfa Romeo ahead of the 2019 season following the announcement that he would not be back for another year with Ferrari, Raikkonen has consistently downplayed the fact that this is a record which he is on pace to break, in typical Kimi Raikkonen fashion.

Here is what he had to say last year, according to Motorsport Total.

"“I’ve never hunted any numbers. I do not care if it’s 20 or 20,000, it does not matter.”"

This was a claim that he reiterated earlier this year, before the season began.

"“On that, not [excited]. It gives me nothing.”"

Fair enough.

But it does give the Formula 1 world something other than Hamilton’s presumed 91st victory to talk about this weekend.

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Raikkonen is scheduled to actually break this record on Sunday, October 11 in the Eifel Grand Prix at the Nurburgring, which is set to be broadcast live on ESPN beginning at 8:10 a.m. ET. The Russian Grand Prix is set to be broadcast live tomorrow morning beginning at 7:10 a.m. ET. By the time the 17-race 2020 season concludes, he is slated to have competed in 329 races.

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