The daunting task faced by 7-time champions

Several Formula 1, NASCAR and IndyCar drivers have become seven-time champions. But none of them have ever won an eighth title. Will Lewis Hamilton end that trend?

Lewis Hamilton made history in November 2020’s Turkish Grand Prix at Intercity Istanbul Park by securing his seventh career Formula 1 world championship and fourth title in a row.

Prior to Hamilton’s championship-clinching effort, Formula 1 had only ever seen one seven-time world champion, with that being Michael Schumacher. Schumacher won the titles in 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004.

Hamilton has now won titles in 2008, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

But while Formula 1, NASCAR and IndyCar have seen quite a few seven-time champions over the years, none of them have ever managed to succeed in their respective quests to become eight-time champions.

Of course, there was no guarantee that Hamilton would even try; he surpassed Schumacher for the career wins record with his 92nd victory last season, and he did not sign a contract extension until about a month before preseason testing began, when he became the 20th and final driver to land a deal for 2021.

Take a look at the history of each of the other seven-time champions.

As noted, Schumacher is the only seven-time champion in Formula 1 aside from Hamilton. He had five chances to win an eighth championship, having competed in 2005, 2006, 2010, 2011 and 2012, but he came up short every time.

In the NASCAR Cup Series, there have been three seven-time champions: Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt and Jimmie Johnson.

Petty won his seventh title in 1979 and then went 0 for 13 in his quest for an eighth. Earnhardt won his seventh in 1994 and was killed in the season opener of his seventh attempt for an eighth in 2001. Johnson’s fourth attempt for an eighth title after winning a seventh in 2016 came up shy last year, and he retired after the 2020 season.

A.J. Foyt is IndyCar’s lone seven-time champion. While he didn’t retire until 1993, 14 years after he won his seventh championship in 1979, he spent only three seasons as a full-time driver attempting to win an eighth title.

Combined, that makes these five seven-time champions 0 for 32 in terms of going for an eighth title. Of course, that should not be all that shocking, considering just how challenging it is to stay at the top for an extended amount of time.

Yet five-time champions and six-time champions have had quite impressive success when it comes to winning sixth and sevenths titles, and it makes sense, given the fact that they are, in fact, five-time champions and six-time champions.

The only five-time champion in Formula 1 aside from Schumacher and Hamilton is Juan Manuel Fangio, who did not compete full-time after winning his fifth title in 1957.

As for Schumacher, he won his sixth title in his first attempt as a five-time champion in 2003. Hamilton did the same in 2019.

NASCAR’s only five-time champions are the three seven-time champions. Petty won his sixth title in his first attempt as a five-time champion in 1975 while Earnhardt won his sixth title in his second attempt as a five-time champion in 1993. Johnson won his sixth title in his third attempt as a five-time champion in 2013.

Scott Dixon won his sixth IndyCar championship in his second attempt as a five-time champion in 2020. Foyt is quite the outlier here, as without him, those other seven drivers are 6 for 10 as five-time champions. He went 1 for 8, winning his sixth championship in 1975 after winning his fifth in 1967.

Still, these drivers are an impressive 7 for 18 in terms of moving from five-time champions to six-time champions.

In terms of six-time champions becoming seven-time champions, they have also had success. Schumacher and Hamilton both won their seventh titles in their first attempts, with the former doing so in 2004 and the latter doing so in 2020.

Petty won his seventh title in his fourth attempt in 1979 while Earnhardt won his in his first in 1994. Johnson won his seventh in his third try in 2016. Foyt won his in his fourth attempt in 1979.

With Dixon having not won the 2021 title, these drivers are 6 for 15.

Yet seven-time champions moving to eight-time champions are a daunting 0 for 32. Will Hamilton buck the trend in this Sunday’s 2021 season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at a revamped Yas Marina Circuit? He and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen are tied atop the driver standings after the 22-race season’s first 21 races, with Verstappen classified as the leader due to having more wins.

Will Dixon ever end up winning a seventh and then an eighth IndyCar title? It’s possible, but history doesn’t exactly favor it.