Lewis Hamilton expects win mark to fall to Max Verstappen

MONTREAL – Lewis Hamilton holds the record for grand prix wins but the seven-time Formula One world champion recognised on Thursday that Max Verstappen could eventually smash that mark.

Even though the Briton is on the verge of signing a contract extension with Mercedes and will have an opportunity to add to his 103 victories – including seven at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve which will host this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix – he said the 25-year-old Dutchman had time on his side.

“He’s got a very long career ahead of him so absolutely (he can do it),” Hamilton, 38, said, referring to Verstappen’s chances of eclipsing his record.

“Ultimately, records are there to be broken.

“We’ve got to work harder to continue to extend it and, at least within the last period of time of my career, I hope we get to have some more close racing.”

Verstappen can deliver Red Bull’s 100th Formula One victory this weekend and step up alongside the late Brazilian great Ayrton Senna with a career haul of 41 wins.

If not in Montreal, it is almost certain, barring injury or something else unforeseen, that he will significantly add to his total this season in which his team have been dominant.

The two-time world champion has won five of this season’s seven races, stretching his lead in the drivers’ standings to 53 points over Mexican teammate Sergio Perez, who has won the other two.

With 15 more races on the 2023 calendar, if Red Bull and Verstappen can continue their imperious ways, the Dutchman could by the end of the season already be more than halfway to Hamilton’s mark.

While it may appear inevitable that Verstappen will challenge the win record, Hamilton signalled that he would not give it away easily, although history indicates he is not a threat.

His last win was in Saudi Arabia in 2021 and no driver has ever won a race after reaching 300 races – he will start his 318th grand prix on Sunday on the circuit where he claimed his first win in 2007.

While no one is predicting a victory, there are signs that Mercedes, who before Red Bull were Formula One’s supreme outfit, could be returning to familiar form.

During an 18-month funk, Mercedes have managed only a single win, through George Russell at the Brazil Grand Prix last November.

But not all victories show up in the win column, said Hamilton, pointing to the Spanish Grand Prix in early June where both Mercedes drivers finished on the podium thanks to upgrades on their cars.

“We’ve come through a tough patch and are on our way back up,” he said.

“Some of the races it feels like we’ve had wins... it’s just about perspective. Of course we’ve not been in first but there have been many wins in the steps we have taken.

“We have that North Star, we know where we need to go.”

Off the track, he has been coy about the extension of his contract, which expires at the end of 2023.

Asked about a keenly anticipated meeting with team chief Toto Wolff to finalise his next deal, Hamilton said: “We never hooked up.”

Pressed on the subject, he laughed off a suggestion that he had been to share a pizza with Wolff and explained there were no fresh developments to reveal.

“No, we never had a pizza,” he said.

“I’ve seen Toto and we talked several times. We have a great relationship but there is nothing else to say at the moment.” REUTERS, AFP