Lewis Hamilton believes Max Verstappen could eclipse his Formula One record of 103 race wins. The British driver acknowledged that Verstappen and his Red Bull team are in a position to chase down his remarkable tally but said he hoped to be able to further extend his lead, perhaps even at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone in three races time.
Hamilton was speaking before this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix, where Verstappen is odds-on to secure his 41st victory, matching Ayrton Senna’s wins. When asked if the Dutchman could yet equal or surpass his own record, Hamilton was unequivocal. “He has got a very long career ahead of him so absolutely,” he said. “Records are there to be broken and he has got an amazing team.” However the seven-time champion also insisted he and his Mercedes team would be unstinting in their efforts to return to the top step of the podium.
“We have to work harder to try and continue to extend [the win record],” he added. “I hope that at least within the last period of time in my career we get to have some close racing.”
After a very strong result at the last round in Spain, Hamilton indicated that he was optimistic regarding further upgrades, so much so that Mercedes could challenge the Red Bulls at Silverstone on 9 July. “I am really, really hopeful,” he said. “The performance we had in Spain, each lap I was only about three-tenths off Max, which is the closest we have been this year. I am hoping by Silverstone we would have taken another step so I am hopeful maybe that will be a race where we can actually race them.”
Hamilton also played down expectations of an announcement of a renewal of his contract with Mercedes, which ends this year, but did indicate his intent was very much that it was to be concluded. “It will get done when it is done, if that’s next week or a months time as long as it gets done I am not really bothered,” he said.
Mercedes, who enjoyed the fruits of their new car design concept at the last round in Barcelona with a second and third place for Hamilton and teammate George Russell, will be eager to see how their improvements play out in Montreal. They looked strong on the straights and medium to high speed corners in Spain but face a new challenge on the shorter straights of Canada and in several of the heavy braking and lower-speed corners.
Verstappen has five wins already this year, in what is proving to be an utterly dominant Red Bull car and leads the world championship by 53 points from his teammate Sergio Pérez. Hamilton is in fourth, 83 points back.
