Lewis Hamilton closes in on Michael Schumacher record as Formula One faces renewed identity crisis

The Senna-loving Brit would be fitting driver to put German in shade, but fears about sport's relevance persist with interest from car manufacturers at all-time low

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  Lewis Hamilton celebrates with the red helmet belonging to Michael Schumacher presented to him by the German's son, Mick, after winning the Eifel Grand Prix at the Nurburgring, Germany. The victory drew the Briton level with Schumacher Snr's record of 91 F1 race wins. Reuters

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  Race winner Lewis Hamilton gets out of his car after winning the Eifel Grand Prix. AFP

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  Mercedes pit crew celebrate British driver Lewis Hamilton winning the Eifel Grand Prix at the Nuerburgring circuit. AFP

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  British Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes celebrates after winning the Formula One Eifel Grand Prix. EPA

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  German Formula One driver Nico Hulkenberg of BWT Racing Point. EPA

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  Mercedes pit crew celebrate British driver Lewis Hamilton winning the Eifel Grand Prix at the Nuerburgring circuit. EPA

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  Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton celebrates with a trophy on the podium after winning the race. Reuters

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  Second placed Red Bull's Dutch driver Max Verstappen. AFP

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  Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton celebrates. Reuters

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  Spanish Formula One driver Carlos Sainz of McLaren in action. EPA

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  Monaco's Formula One driver Charles Leclerc of Ferrari (front) and French Formula One driver Pierre Gasly of AlphaTauri Honda. EPA

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  Mexican Formula One driver Sergio Perez of BWT Racing Point. EPA

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  Renault's Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo drives ahead of his French teammate Esteban Ocon. AFP

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  Finnish Formula One driver Kimi Raikkonen of Alfa Romeo Racing. EPA

Lewis Hamilton has long been on the path to a greater glory. And it just might happen on Sunday in Portugal.

He matched Michael Schumacher’s record of 91 wins at the last round in Germany and, barring disaster, it’s only a question of time before he will become the most successful driver of all time.

At Portimao, or the following race in Italy, he should set a new record for 92 wins. And before the season’s end officially notch up a seventh championship to set his sights on No 8.

These things won’t wait of course but, in many ways, it would be more apposite if No 92 was ticked off at Imola, the race after next, where his idol Ayrton Senna died in 1994.

Hamilton has carried the colours of the legendary Brazilian on his helmet throughout his career.

As a young kart racer he hid behind a car and cried the day his father, Anthony, told him his idol had died.

For all the eulogising of Schumacher achievements there has only ever been one hero for Lewis. And that is Ayrton.

Senna, of course, went to his grave having left giant question marks over the way Schumacher’s car was performing and all that year the FIA pursued a curious Option 13 on the Benetton’s engine software (in a directory that only went up to 10!) and a mysterious self-wiping programme.

Swirling rumours Benetton were using an illegal traction control system were denied even though they admitted it had been used in testing. Schumacher’s rocket starts did nothing to assuage the doubters.

In 2000 Schumacher matched Senna’s career tally of 41 wins. It was no record (Prost had 10 more) but asked about equalling Senna the German sobbed on a live television broadcast as he replied: “Yes, it means a lot to me”.

So I see some circular cosmic justice that the man carrying the banner for Ayrton should be the one to finally put Schumacher in the shade.

Hamilton’s remarkable achievements come at a time when F1 faces a renewed crisis about its identity amid an all-time low level of interest from car manufacturers.

Although it is no reflection on Hamilton’s remarkable achievements F1 is dragging itself repeatedly through (frequently turgid) cycles of dominance. Mercedes now for seven years, previously Red Bull-Vettel for four and Ferrari-Schumacher for six.

Honda’s shock decision last month to withdraw in 2021to focus on carbon-free technologies should be treated as a massive wake up call.

Notoriously covetous

This is only the third time in its 71-year history F1 has had just three engine suppliers.

That it leaves Red Bull high and dry makes it a double disaster.

The Milton Keynes operation are to F1 what Brazil is to the football World Cup. They are not just challengers but former champions, key flair players who compete with a delightful elan.

With two teams in their stable Red Bull spend more on F1 than everyone except, perhaps, Mercedes.

And Mercedes have refused to sell them engines so the options are an uncompetitive Ferrari, Renault or buy Honda’s design but the Japanese company is notoriously covetous.

Under current rules, Renault has a contractual obligation to F1 to stump up power units but after the acrimonious divorce from Red Bull only three years ago that is hardly ideal.

Under new owners Liberty F1 finds itself at the same old crossroads F1 has dodged in the past: is it a sport or entertainment? Boxing or World Wrestling Federation?

It has gone down a road with engines designed with turbos and hybrid boosters that is both expensive, intricate and also has little relevance to road cars, says Red Bull boss Christian Horner, so manufacturers are staying away.

Formula E has taken that high ground as the green formula, where the watch word is sustainability.

Older fans may not baulk at the sport returning to the delightful shriek of the old V8, V10 or V12 engines with just a financially manageable hint of new technologies.

It would probably mean better racing and entertainment and a cheaper bottom line but how relevant would it be to manufacturers?

Despite being in the teeth of this dilemma Horner admitted F1 could not afford to become “a dinosaur”.

The sport had a duty, he said “that our children still fall in love with the sport and it does have a relevance. There are fundament questions that need to be answered.”