Over the past 5 seasons now, we've seen the prodigy from McLaren turn into F1's all time stat leader in nearly every category he is eligible for. Of course, its not easy comparing across eras. But that means that statistics are often used to "smooth the edges" so to speak when comparing eras. So today, let's examine the argument for Lewis Hamilton as the greatest Formula 1 driver to ever live.
Fact 1: Hamilton Tied 2-time WC Alonso on Points in his Rookie Season (and was 1 Point off the title)
Rookie stats do often reflect raw pace more accurately. Discounting engineer connections, and F1 experience it can mean a great deal. McLaren did have a rapid car that year, but there was some tough competition in Raikkonen, Kubica, and pre-injury Massa
Fact 2: Hamilton Holds the Record for Most Poles
Likely that we can add wins here too at the pace he's going. What's interesting about this stat is how often we talk about certain drivers being sub-par on Saturdays. Qualifying is truly an art, and Hamilton followed up Vettel's legacy with some stellar 2010s performances.
Fact 3: Hamilton has Lead 32% of all Laps he's Raced in
Okay, this one is patently insane. If you picked out a stray lap from anywhere in Hamilton's career, there's a one in three shot he's at the front of it. This cleanly beats out any other driver with enough laps to matter. Wow.
Fact 4: His Worst Season's Stats Are... still Pretty Good
2013 was statistically the toughest year for Hamilton. In an off-year following his move to Mercedes, Hamilton still racked up a win, 5 podiums, 5 poles and fourth in the championship. Not to mention beating out 2009 WC Jenson Button in the teammate battle.
Fact 5: He's never finished below 5th in any championship season.
Out of the 14 years Lewis has been in F1, none of them have seen him drop out of the top 5. After knowing those other stats, this probably isn't a shocker, but with Vettel, Alonso, and Raikkonen's careers falling short of that mark, it is extraordinary to see how close Hamilton has always been to the top.
Come back next time for an article looking at why Schumacher could be considered: the GOAT. Thanks for reading!
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