LEWIS HAMILTON: CLIMBING TOWARDS THE PEAK

Lewis Hamilton: Climbing towards the peak – Photo: LAT

One year ago, when Lewis Hamilton was 20 races shy of matching Michael Schumacher’s incredible record of 91 Formula 1 wins, he said Schumacher’s record was “the Everest”.

By DAN KNUTSON

With his recent victory in Russia – his ninth of the season – Hamilton had amassed 82 trips to the top step of the podium. Can he see the peak of the mountain now?

“This year has been such a long year that I don’t think I can see it yet,” Hamilton says.

“Right now, I’m fortunate to be fighting for this title too. I feel very, very privileged to have another year where I’m able to fight. You never know what the years following will be like. So this could be it. I just cherish the moment right now, and I’m not really looking that far ahead.”

It’s been a difficult year for Hamilton and the F1 circus with both FIA race director Charlie Whiting and Mercedes team advisor Niki Lauda passing away. Then Anthoine Herbert was killed and Juan Manuel Correa was badly injured in the F2 accident during the Belgian Grand Prix weekend.

How has Hamilton handled all of this, and how long does it take to overcome it all?

“I can’t remember how long it takes,” Hamilton says. “It’s definitely not been easy, but the world continues doesn’t it? That’s the sad thing about it.

“Life is so precious, but the world keeps moving. We had a young boy dying in Spa, but the next day everyone continued racing. The world just moves on to the next thing, which is so sad. But it’s the same when I die, the same when you die.

Hamilton has enjoyed so much success, so what now motivates him the most? Getting more wins and titles or beating the new generation?

“I don’t need to be more motivated,” Hamilton says. “I’m as motivated as I can be.”

Read the full feature in the issue 1772 of Auto Action, available right now.

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