After having seen its first 10 stages postponed or canceled due to the pandemic, the Formula 1 World Championship, which celebrates its 70 years of existence, resumes its rights at the weekend during the Austrian Grand Prix .
• Read also: Formula 1 in numbers
The initial schedule was to include a record of 22 events, but it will in all likelihood be reduced to around fifteen stopovers by the end of the season. Everything will depend on the situation of COVID-19 in the countries that F1 still wishes to visit after September 6.
No matter how many races are on the calendar (the first eight will take place in Europe and behind closed doors), Lewis Hamilton is on the right track to equal, if not lower, the brands owned by Michael Schumacher that we thought were unbeatable.
In his last year of the contract binding him to the Mercedes team, the Briton therefore sees a golden opportunity to republish the F1 record book. Starting with the number of titles. Hamilton, 35, won a sixth world championship last year. He only has one left to conquer to join the German, who sits at the top.
Photo courtesy, Mercedes-AMG F1, formula1.com
Lewis Hamilton and his teammate Valtteri Bottas will pilot this new black livery, unveiled earlier this week by the Mercedes team, in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, which fights against racism and discrimination.
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Victories and presence on the podium
Schumacher’s record of 91 wins is also at risk as Hamilton has 84 on his record. However, if he maintains his rhythm of the last seasons (since 2014, he has won at least nine Grands Prix per year), he could make history in 2020.
To this, we could also add the number of appearances on the podium. The record 155, also owned by Schumacher, is the first that could fall since Hamilton already has 151. The Briton entered the grandstand 17 times in 21 events last year.
Furthermore, Schumacher is the only driver to have won the same Grand Prix (France) on eight occasions. Hamilton, on the other hand, has won seven times in Hungary and Canada. It remains to be confirmed whether the great F1 circus will be racing this fall at the Gilles-Villeneuve circuit.
Earliness record
Schumacher (2004) and Sebastian Vettel (2013) have achieved the feat of winning 13 victories in one season. With 11 (obtained on three occasions), Hamilton will probably have to wait another year due to the shortened calendar.
In addition, a record that does not belong to Schumacher or Hamilton could fall this year, that of the youngest world champion.
Since 2010, Vettel has held this mark of precocity when it was titrated at the age of 23 years, 4 months and 11 days. However, Max Verstappen (born September 30, 1997) and Charles Leclerc (October 16, 1997) will have a chance to lower this record in 2020.
Latifi, the only recruit
The Austrian Grand Prix, contested this Sunday at Spielberg, marks the start of the 2020 F1 season. Unlike last year, most teams have retained their driver duo, with a few exceptions.
He is coming
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Nicholas Latifi
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► After four learning seasons in F2, where he placed second in the final ranking in 2019, Nicholas Latifi made the leap in F1. For the first time in history, two Canadian drivers will compete full-time in the premier discipline of motorsport. Born in Montreal, Latifi, 25, grew up in Toronto. Many associate his coming to F1 with the fortune of his father, Michael, like his compatriot Lance Stroll. He will be the only rookie at the start of the Grands Prix this year at the wheel of a Williams, still considered to be the worst car in the field.
He returns
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Esteban Ocon
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► Described as one of the most gifted pilots of his generation, Esteban Ocon will once again be able to express his talent aboard a Renault. The 23-year-old Frenchman had lost his place with Force India at the end of 2018 in favor of Lance Stroll, when this stable was bought by Lawrence, the father of the Quebec pilot, and his group of partners. Ocon did not remain inactive last year, having been given the role of third driver in Mercedes.
They left
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Nico Hulkenberg
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► After 177 starts in F1, Nico Hulkenberg lost his wheel in the Renault team at the end of the 2019 season. The 32-year-old German holds the unenviable record for the largest number of participations without any presence on the podium. Rumors suggest that he could return to Renault in 2021 to take the place of Daniel Ricciardo.
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Robert Kubica
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► Recruited full time by the Williams team last year, Robert Kubica intended to relaunch its F1 course interrupted by a rally accident in February 2011. But the anemic performance of its car relegated it to the back of the grid. Replaced by Nicholas Latifi, he found a job as a test driver at Alfa Romeo in F1. He will also be engaged full-time in the German DTM championship for passenger cars in a BMW.
► Finally, the Toro Rosso stable has been renamed AlphaTauri, from the name of the clothing line belonging to the Red Bull company.
Pilots registered this year
Ferrari
- Sebastian Vettel (GER)
- Charles Leclerc (MON)
Renault
- Daniel Ricciardo (AUS)
- Esteban Ocon (FRA)
McLaren
- Carlos Sainz Jr. (ESP)
- Lando Norris (GBR)
Alfa Romeo
- Kimi Räikkönen (FIN)
- Antonio Giovinazzi (ITA)
Williams
- George Russell (GBR)
- Nicholas Latifi (CAN)
Mercedes
- Lewis Hamilton (GBR)
- Valtteri Bottas (FIN)
Red Bull
- Max Verstappen (NED)
- Alexander Albon (THA)
Haas
- Romain Grosjean (FRA)
- Kevin Magnussen (DAN)
Racing Point
- Sergio Pérez (MEX)
- Lance Stroll (CAN)
AlphaTauri
- Pierre Gasly (FRA)
- Daniil Kvyat (RUS)
Lewis Hamilton in Formula 1
| Seasons | Departures | Victories | Podiums | Poles |
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| 2007 | 17 | 4 | 12 | 6 |
| 2008 | 18 | 5 | 10 | 7 |
| 2009 | 17 | 2 | 5 | 4 |
| 2010 | 19 | 3 | 9 | 1 |
| 2011 | 19 | 3 | 6 | 1 |
| 2012 | 20 | 4 | 7 | 7 |
| 2013 | 19 | 1 | 5 | 5 |
| 2014 | 19 | 11 | 16 | 7 |
| 2015 | 19 | 10 | 17 | 11 |
| 2016 | 21 | 10 | 17 | 12 |
| 2017 | 20 | 9 | 13 | 11 |
| 2018 | 21 | 11 | 17 | 11 |
| 2019 | 21 | 11 | 17 | 5 |
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World champion in 2008, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2019
