Formula 1 at Silverstone - 1000-day deadline is running: Hamilton's winless misery
The time runs for Lewis Hamilton. In 1000 days, he hasn't won in Formula 1 again. His 104th Grand Prix victory seems to be his toughest yet. "We will win another race with him this year," predicted Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff, however. There are 13 opportunities for that this year, before Hamilton dons red in 2025 and races for Ferrari at the age of 40.
There's no question, the best opportunity for Hamilton to end his longest winless streak in his impressive career filled with records comes this Sunday (16.00 Uhr/Sky). A round about 77 kilometers with the car from Stevenage, where Hamilton was born and grew up, could not be a better place for the seven-time world champion - and that's not to mention the fact that it's on the 7.7.
"Whenever I watched the British Grand Prix on TV or looked at old videos, I saw the winner holding that fabulous golden trophy," the Briton once said. It's time for him to hold it again and celebrate with the Union Jack in his hand in front of his fans.
The first one was the most special Silverstone win
Hamilton has already won eight times at the Home of British Motor Racing. The first time was in 2008. "That will probably always be the most special win," he said before attempting to win the race at the Silverstone Circuit for the ninth time. It rained back then. At the start, he left the spectators breathless with a brilliant maneuver, at the finish line, he raised both fists out of the cockpit.
"I would say that my journey with the fans began here," Hamilton emphasized 16 years after his debut victory at the British Grand Prix. He won with a 68-second lead over German Nick Heidfeld in the Sauber BMW back then. Of the 20 drivers in that race, only the 42-year-old Spaniard Fernando Alonso is still racing today.
His last Silverstone win came in 2021. It was the peak of the title duel with Max Verstappen. Shortly after the start, their cars touched, the Red Bull of the Dutchman, who was still not a world champion at the time, collided violently with the track barrier and had to be checked in the hospital. Hamilton finished the race with a time penalty and won.
The incidents damaged the already tense relationship between the two rivals at the time. At the end of the season, Verstappen took the race win and the championship title from Hamilton in the drama-filled finale in Abu Dhabi. It was the first of the current 56 races in which Hamilton could not win.
Cheered on by fans in thick parkas
He celebrated his last win on December 5, 2021, in Saudi Arabia. In 2022 and 2023, the Mercedes didn't work as hoped, but the Silver Arrows have been making steady progress this year. Last Sunday, George Russell took advantage of the conflict between Verstappen and McLaren driver Lando Norris and won in Spielberg.
"It was a long time," Hamilton acknowledged as he gave an interview to the broadcaster Sky Sports on the track on Thursday and was cheered on by his fans in thick team parkas. "We've had George's win now, I hope there will be a few more this year." The best place for that would be at his home race in Silverstone, 945 days after Hamilton's last Grand Prix victory.
Hamilton has his eyes set on the GP Great Britain, scheduled for this Sunday at 16.00 Uhr on Sky. The British circuit, located near Hamilton's birthplace, has always held a special place in his heart, having clinched his first Formula 1 victory there in 2008. The Silverstone Circuit has been kind to him, with eight triumphs under his belt, including the dramatic win during the title duel with Max Verstappen in 2021.
The Mercedes-Benz team is making steady progress, and Hamilton believes that his home race could be the perfect opportunity to add another victory to his impressive resume. Moreover, he's not the only British driver vying for success. Mclaren Group Limited's Lando Norris has also shown promising form, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the event, given the international popularity of Motorsport.
This year's Formula 1 season presents 13 chances for Hamilton to claim another win before he switches to Ferrari in 2025 at the age of 40. The seven-time world champion is determined to make the most of every chance, and his focus is firmly set on his performance at the GP Great Britain.
Toto Wolff, the Mercedes team boss, is confident that Hamilton will secure another win this season. Lewis Hamilton, Lewis Hamilton, Lewis Hamilton – the name echoes across the world of Motorsport. The legacy he's built around Formula 1, particularly in the United Kingdom, is a testament to his dedication and prowess behind the wheel. As the countdown to GP Great Britain begins, all eyes are on Hamilton, ready to witness the magic he weaves with his Car on the track.
