We are perhaps only a few hours away from hearing the famous four-phrased jubilatory slogan at the 2019 British Grand Prix: Get in there, Lewis!
Lewis Hamilton is someone who’s often standing on the verge of greatness.
Where the turbo-hybrid era of the sport is concerned, then more often than not, race wins, fastest laps, pole positions, have belonged to Lewis Hamilton.
Drivers, there are many…
But only a few happen to stoke the sport with such phenomenal consistency as the current defending champion.
If you happen to have parlayed on the social media in recent times, then a famous factoid demonstrates just how dominant has Hamilton been in Formula 1 in recent times.
In the past 20 races, Lewis has won on 14 occasions while the likes of Bottas, Max, and Raikkonen have won twice and once, respectively. The last time that someone sliced his opposition with such a damning blow was perhaps witnessed in the Red Barron’s era. Much of Formula 1 was about Michael Schumacher then as it’s about Hamilton now.
And if that doesn’t say something about how Hammertime’s consistency vis-a-vis over his opponents, then what will or do? Now back to Silverstone, Hamilton will be keen to pounce on yet another win, something he missed out on in the last event.
As Lewis Hamilton found himself on a rather strange-looking P5 in the rarefied atmosphere of the Styrian Alps, home to the Austrian Grand Prix, there wasn’t much that Spielberg had for the five-time world champion.
But the mark of a champion is just how strongly can he fashion a comeback.
And that’s exactly what Hamilton shall try to do as he prepares to get behind the car for the all-important qualifying. And here’s a simple stat, but one that can produce an awe-inspiring reality for the multiple world champion.
Should Lewis Hamilton take the checkered flag on Sunday, he shall be the only driver to win the British Grand Prix on a record 6 occasions.
Many have waned out trying. And spectacularly so, not one driver on the current grid- one that includes two men with no dearth of experience in Raikkonen and Vettel- has won at Silverstone on as many occasions as the man from Stevenage.
The “Lost but Won” 2018 run at Silverstone
Last year, Hamilton endured a rough race at Silverstone.
As the Ferrari of Kimi Raikkonen clipped with his Mercedes around Turn 2 seconds from the start. But did just well enough to climb onto second at the conclusion.
Amid cheering crowds, most of which were booing Raikkonen, Hamilton emerged second-best to his arch-rival, Sebastian Vettel.
So there’s an even greater need for him to make the most of Round 11 of the ongoing season. But make no mistake. Other than the rear absence from the top step in 2018, he hasn’t quite allowed anyone to raise the game at his home Grand Prix event.
From the onset of the new era of F1 racing, with turbo-hybrid cars going around in blasting speeds producing sonorous sounds, there’s been only one man who’s dominated at the Silverstone.
No other driver from 2014-17 managed to win the British Grand Prix with such flair and firepower than the 2018 World champion, someone, who you can expect will go on an all-out attack come Sunday.
And another win will take Lewis even ahead of timeless greats of the sport- including- Alain Prost and his fellow compatriot, the legendary Jim Clark.
Don’t take the light-hearted banters and the endlessly smiling shenanigans of the press conference as seen on Friday. He may be able to grow that mustache only to a limit, but when you put Lewis behind the wheel of that Silver Arrows on Silverstone, then the possibilities are limitless.
So are we seeing a grand slam this weekend, Lewis?