Hamilton sets sights on Schumacher’s record in Sochi GP

Sports Desk, Sep 24 (efe-epa).- Lewis Hamilton, leader in the Formula One World Championship and six-time world champion, will equal Michael Schumacher’s record 91 Formula One wins if he is victorious at the Russian Grand Prix in Sochi on Sunday.

The British Mercedes driver is on track for his seventh world championship, which would also put him equal with the retired German Ferrari great, who dominated the championships between 2000 and 2004 after victories in 1994 and 1995.

Sochi will be Hamilton’s first opportunity to put himself even with Schumacher’s 91-win record.

At 35 years old, he is two years younger than Schumacher was when he secured his final win in the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai in October 2006.

There is no better circuit for Hamilton to be chasing his 91st win than the one on the shores of the Black Sea, as Mercedes has an unbeaten run on the roads around the Winter Olympic Park.

Hamilton took four wins in 2014, 2015, 2018 and 2019, his German teammate Nico Rosberg secured one in 2016 while another went to Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas in 2017.

“I don’t really know what to say to those things. I think it’s just very strange,” he told F1’s official website.

“All of us drivers grew up watching Michael and dreaming of one day being here.

“What is happening right now is far beyond what I dreamed as a kid, and I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity we’re given every day.”

He added: “I think Michael was an incredible athlete and driver, and I always feel really humbled and really honored to be mentioned in the same light as a driver like him.”