Motorsport

LEWIS HAMILTON has broken Michael Schumacher’s record with his 92nd Formula One win.
The British star, 35, is also likely to match the German’s record seven world titles this season, too.

Lewis Hamilton has the most F1 wins in history with 92, breaking Michael Schumacher’s recordCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Schumacher’s record seven world titles could be equalled this season by HamiltonCredit: AP:Associated Press

Hamilton has already beaten Schumacher’s record for the most podiums and pole positions.
But which of the two F1 legends is the greatest?
Sadly, the two only competed against each other for three seasons in F1 when Schumacher came out of retirement to drive for Mercedes, who were then uncompetitive.
SunSport breaks down the drivers’ skills into five categories to establish who is F1’s No1.

WORK-RATE
Hamilton
The Mercedes man gets a fair chunk of stick for his jet-setting ways and there is a feeling he doesn’t do his homework in the same way as other drivers do.
Wrong. He does and has his notebook that he carries with him that he uses to provide feedback to his engineers.
Score: 8

Schumacher
When Schumacher joined Ferrari he was already well-known for his attention to detail, but after signing for the Italian team he cranked it up to a new level.
Yes, Ferrari did surround him with the best people and a defacto No2 driver, but Schumacher’s work-rate was next level.
Score: 10

Lewis Hamilton has looked in imperious form this season – particularly in the wetCredit: EPA

OVER A SINGLE LAP
Hamilton
In F1, there is a term that is frequently used that is along the lines of “being able to extract the most from the package”.
To everyone else, that means going as quick as you can… and the best measurement of that is in qualifying.
Hamilton is untouchable over one flying lap, his performances, especially for Mercedes, on a Saturday are mesmerising.
Score: 10
Schumacher
While Schumacher achieved an impressive 68 poles during his F1 career, Hamilton currently sits on 97, and having reached that number on 44 fewer races.
Make no mistake, Schumacher was quick, but Hamilton easily edges this one.
The argument of who had the better car also goes out of the window.
Score: 8

Hamilton has reached the level of Schumacher – something no one thought possibleCredit: Reuters
DRIVING IN THE WET
Hamilton
Whenever it rains, Hamilton is the favourite.
Since his impressive performance in the wet at Silverstone in 2008 to his bravery in qualifying for this year’s Styrian GP, he always seems to keep it on the black stuff, whatever the weather.
This year’s pole in Austria was particularly impressive, with his Merc boss Toto Wolff hailing the performance as “not from this world”.
Score: 10
Schumacher
Like Hamilton, the German has a reputation for being an excellent wet weather driver.
One race that stands out is the 1995 Belgian GP where he stayed on slicks while most of the other cars pitted for wets.
Despite being slower, Schumacher held off Damon Hill to win the race.
Score: 9

The ten greatest F1 drivers of all-time – according to SunSport’s motorsport correspondent Ben Hunt

CALM UNDER PRESSURE
Hamilton
With team radio now regularly played out on TV, fans get an insight into life in the drivers’ cockpits.
For the best part, Hamilton’s comments on tyres are interesting for those studying the lap times.
But while he sometimes sounds flustered, it’s worth remembering he’s travelling at 200mph and pulling G-forces of 5G.
Whatever he says to his team, Hamilton keeps things clean on track and does not resort to dirty tricks.
Score: 10
Schumacher
Without the radio exchanges from Schuamcher’s era, it is difficult to make a direct comparison between their attitudes in the heat of battle.
But there is a clear winner when it comes to gentlemanly conduct when handling the pressure.
Time and again, Schumacher was at the centre of a foul play storm, be it blocking, dangerous moves or even inexplicably stopping on track to halt a qualifying session.
Score: 8

Hamilton’s consistency race-on-race, season-after-season is mightily impressiveCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Schumacher is likely to see his record for most F1 wins broken this seasonCredit: EPA
CONSISTENCY
Hamilton
Ah, the old argument about having the best car.
The best car of the season is always defined by who won the title that year.
The best drivers get to drive the best cars.
Currently, the Mercedes is the best car and Hamilton’s consistency there has been staggering.
He’s won 70 of the last 132 GPs.
Score: 10
Schumacher
Schuamcher’s 13 wins out of 18 in his title-winning 2004 season is the standout, yet that level of dominance is similar to Hamilton’s eight wins in 12 for this season.
But when you look at Schumacher’s stats, the results are punctuated by retirements – something Hamilton rarely does.
In fact, Hamilton’s last retirement from a race was over two years ago.
Score: 8
TOTAL SCORE
Hamilton: 48
Schumacher: 43

Lewis Hamilton claims F1 chiefs are trying to stop him winning a seventh world title by slowing Mercedes down More

LEWIS HAMILTON officially holds the record for most Formula One win after taking first place at the Portugal Grand Prix.
The British star, 35, stormed to victory to take his win-tally to a staggering 92 – one ahead of legend Michael Schumacher.

Lewis Hamilton officially holds the record for most F1 wins following his victory in Portugal

Hamilton won the Portugal GP to seal the record

Hamilton has come a long way from his days as a young go-karting champCredit: Instagram @lewishamilton

Lewis Hamilton grew up in this modest home in StevenageCredit: Steven Jensen

But it’s not just on the track Hamilton has been making headlines during his illustrious career.
Hamilton has been dating – or rumoured to have been dating – a host of famous faces down the years, including Nicole Scherzinger, whom he dated on and off between 2007 and 2015.
He’s also been in the headlines for his lifestyle down the years, such as urging fans to go vegan.
But one constant in his life has been his family, some of whom have been there from his go-karting youth to see him become one of the greatest F1 racers to ever set foot in a cockpit.

Here we take a closer look at the Hamilton family…
ANTHONY HAMILTON – Dad

Anthony Hamilton was Lewis’ manager for 18 years from go-karting to F1Credit: PA:Press Association

Anthony married second wife Linda and they had Lewis’ half-brother NicolasCredit: BBC
HAMILTON’S dad, Anthony, is a major reason the Stevenage-born star even got into racing.
He bought Lewis his first remote-controlled car when he was just six-years-old – and his first go-kart for Christmas when he was seven.
Anthony would help Lewis break into the world of go-karting, where he spent seven years working his way from the Rye House Kart Circuit in Hertforshire to Formula Super A stardom.

Hamilton Snr was Lewis’ manager throughout his racing career up until 2010, when he was ruthlessly sacked.
Two weeks before the F1 season started, Lewis downplayed the incident, saying: “Dad will miss being here, but it was me who initiated the break.
“He’s got other things to focus on, and I don’t want my dad being my manager anymore.”
However, Anthony later revealed the true extent of the drama, admitting: “He thought, ‘Do you know what dad? I am fed up listening to you’.
“He decided he wanted to be his own man. I was comfortable with that.”
Anthony later suggested Lewis had withheld a £3million payment he’d promised him as a ‘thank you’ for his 18 years of service.
He revealed: “It just never happened. I am comfortable with it. It’s not my business. If he says he’s going to do something and he doesn’t that’s his loss.”
Anthony was married to Hamilton’s mum, Carmen Larbalestier, but the pair separated when Lewis was just two-years-old.
CARMEN LARBALESTIER – Mum

Lewis Hamilton lived with mum Carmen until he was 12, when he moved in with his dadCredit: PA:Press Association

Hamilton hugged mum Carmen and step-mum Linda en route to his first F1 crownCredit: EPA
WHILE Anthony was seen at almost every race of Lewis’ career in the early days, mum Carmen was always a more elusive figure in the racer’s life.
But Lewis actually enjoyed more of his formative years living with his biological mum.
The F1 superstar was raised by his mum until he was 12-years-old – along with half-sisters Nicola and Samantha.
He then moved to live with dad Anthony, step-mother Linda and his half-brother Nicolas.
While Carmen hasn’t been a regular at Lewis’ races – she has always been there for the big moments – with the pair said to enjoy an excellent relationship.
At the Chinese Grand Prix in 2008, two weeks before he became a world champion for the first time, Larbalestier was seen embracing her son and his stepmother Linda.
And Hamilton’s mum shared another hug with him after he secured his fourth world title in Mexico in 2017.
The world champ also went to the trouble of holding a surprise 60th birthday party in London in 2015 – even getting Jessie J to sing at the bash.
Speaking about her break-up with Anthony, Carmen once revealed: “Lewis was the best thing to come out of my marriage. [The split] didn’t damage Lewis.
“He is probably better for it than if we had stuck together in an unhappy marriage.
“Tony wanted to be somebody and he has achieved that. I wanted the quiet life and that put a barrier between us. I couldn’t see myself in that busy, hectic lifestyle.
“But I didn’t stop him making sure Lewis got what he wanted. Without his dad’s constant, constant work he would not have been able to continue.”
LINDA HAMILTON – Step-mum

Linda Hamilton has regularly been spotted at Lewis’ racesCredit: Getty

Linda Hamilton started dating Anthony when Lewis was ten-years-oldCredit: Gary Stone – The Sun
AFTER his early years with his mum, Lewis moved to live with his dad and brother aged 12 – joining step-mum Linda.
Anthony had already been with Linda for two years – and she took an active role in raising Lewis before he moved in with her.
Linda was regularly spotted at races alongside Anthony, even after he was sacked as Lewis’ manager.
And she shared a sweet moment at the Chinese GP in 2008, when she hugged Lewis – along with his birth mum Carmen – following his victory just weeks before he sealed his first world crown.
Linda is the birth mum of Lewis’ half-brother, Nicolas.
NICOLAS HAMILTON – Half-brother

Nicolas Hamilton, centre, is also a racer, now part of the BTCCCredit: Instagram @lewishamilton

Nicolas, left, has cerebral palsy and grew up with Lewis during the latter’s teenage yearsCredit: Getty
THE younger son born to Anthony, Nicolas lived with Lewis after he moved to join his dad and step-mum Linda aged 12.
Nicolas was born with cerebral palsy – a disease affecting movement and coordination.
However, he has never let that hold him back, with the 27-year-old also a racing driver.
Nicolas drives a modified car in the British Touring Car Championship – where he has started 36 races.
In 2015, he secured a deal with AmD Tuning to race an Audi S3 for five events in the BTCC – totalling 12 races – becoming the first-ever disabled driver to compete.
And earlier this year, he secured his first full-time gig, signing up to drive for Motorbase Performance.
As well as his two seasons in the BTCC, Hamilton also spent four years driving in the Renault Clio Cup UK and one in the European Touring Car Cup.
In 2016, he was briefly a part of Channel 4’s F1 coverage team.

NICOLA & SAMANTHA LOCKHART – Half-sisters
LEWIS’ two half-sisters are the product of mum Carmen’s second marriage.
Hamilton had lived with both Nicola and Samantha up until the age of 12, when he moved to live with his dad and half-brother.
The sisters remain relatively out of the spotlight but are thought to have grown up in Sandy, Bedfordshire with mum Carmen.
KAIDEN – Nephew

Hamilton was slammed after he said he was ‘so sad’ nephew Kaiden was wearing a purple and pink dressCredit: Lewis Hamilton Instagram
ON Christmas Day 2017, Kaiden went from unknown to a celebrity of his own after Hamilton’s lapse in judgement.
Hamilton slammed his nephew for wearing a purple and pink dress, sharing a clip on Instagram, saying: “I’m so sad right now.
“Why are you wearing a princess dress? Is this what you got for Christmas? Why did you ask for a princess dress for Christmas, boys don’t wear princess dresses!”
But Kaiden melted fans’ hearts as he simply pointed his wand at Lewis and giggled for the camera.
Hamilton later apologised for the insensitive post and went on to wear a kilt for GQ magazine, saying he wanted to “make amends”.
The F1 star posted: “I meant no harm and did not mean to offend anyone at all. I love that my nephew feels free to express himself as we all should.
“My deepest apologies for my behaviour as I realise it is really not acceptable for anyone, no matter where you are from, to marginalise or stereotype anyone.
“I have always been in support of anyone living their life exactly how they wish and I hope I can be forgiven for this lapse in judgement.”

Lewis Hamilton releases album about drinking too much, sleeping with women and having his heart broken More