100 poles and 98 wins for Lewis Hamilton: A Historic Weekend

Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has been a Mercedes-dominant track ever since the hybrid era and the Black Arrows took over Formula 1, but there was something about last weekend that was special. That something? Sir Lewis Hamilton.

Sir Lewis, as he is now known, is often called the ‘King’ of Formula 1 and boy was he that at Barcelona. His FIFTH win in a row at the Spanish Grand Prix didn’t even take the headlines. His 100th pole did.

One. Hundredth.

Michael Schumacher only (ONLY?!) has 68 in second place, meaning Hamilton has started at the front of the grid 32 times more than the man he shares the world championship record with. It’s just staggering.

Growing up, I never imagined seeing a driver better than Michael – I don’t think anyone did – but Hamilton consistently puts himself in the top two on a Saturday AND Sunday. Don’t forget, Red Bull started the year with the better car and Lewis has still won three of the four races in 2021 so far.

When the boy from Stevenage first sat down in the seat of that McLaren in 2007 – even when he bagged his first pole – he stated that qualifying wasn’t his strong suit in karting, nor Formula 3, yet here we are marveling at a true sporting great.

Whether it’s his lap at Silverstone in 2008, the mesmeric showcase of ability in a near-monsooning Styria last year or basically every Q3 in recent memory, Hamilton is there or there abouts. Every. Single. Weekend.

His consistency in qualifying is mind-blowing, but his form on a Sunday is equally impressive if not more so. It’s one thing to put one rapid lap together with no mistakes, but to run at the front of the pack weekend after weekend – hardly ever getting caught – takes some doing. What’s even more incredible is his ability to run away with races once in the lead.

Not only does he come from 20 seconds behind catch his rival with eight laps left before going on to win by 25, he has hardly ever lost out to a teammate – and that’s including world champion Fernando Alonso in his rookie season. In fact, the only time he has been beaten in the Championship race at Mercedes was back in 2016 when childhood friend turned (in many respects) worst teammate Nico Rosberg pipped him to the title by a handful of points.

I won’t mention that Lewis’ multiple engine failures gifted Rosberg a near hundred points swing. Oops.

Basically, then, Lewis has been at the top of his game for almost his entire 14-year Formula 1 career – his only average season coming in the one following his first Championship win – and I can’t quite get my around the fact that he doesn’t look like he’ll be done breaking (his own) records any time soon.

Hamilton recently announced that he plans to continue racing in Formula 1 in 2022. Considering that many casted doubt over his renewal with Toto Wolff for his season, that’s a bold statement. That being said, who on Earth would call it a day when they’re one title short of officially being the greatest of all time?