Lewis Hamilton has no headspace for overwhelming emotion of surpassing Michael Schumacher

Mercedes

Hamilton has no headspace for overwhelming emotion of surpassing Schumacher

Hamilton still has seven races left this year to break the German's record number of wins

Ewan Gale

Friday 2 October 2020 07:59

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff believes Lewis Hamilton has pushed the prospect of equaling and surpassing Michael Schumacher's record number of wins to one side because he does not have the headspace for the "overwhelming emotion" of the feat.

Hamilton failed to equal the tally of 91 race victories last time out in Sochi, in part due to being penalised for a pre-race infringement surrounding his practice starts.

With seven races remaining, however, the likelihood is the Briton will equal, and even break, the record by the end of the year after already winning six of the first 10.

Article continues under video

"It is incredible and we don't think about it a lot," Wolff told Sky Sports F1 when asked to assess the prospect of such a milestone.

"I think Lewis pushes it aside a little bit because he would have never dreamed of having 91 wins, he would have never dreamt of having a similar career like Michael.

"For a driver, it must be very emotional if you achieve that, and this is why he doesn't have a lot of space in his head at the moment.

"If he can do it, it is going to be overwhelming to be ahead of the greatest driver of all time."

Hamilton replaced Schumacher at Mercedes following the German's three-year stint at the Brackley-based team.

Wolff recounted the first time he met Schumacher, explaining how the aura of the seven-time world champion made him lose his ability to play backgammon!

"I admire Michael's achievements so much," he said.

"Ten years from the early 2000s to the end, it was the Michael Schumacher era and I remember when I met him for the first time, it was on a flight to Singapore and he invited me to play backgammon.

"I was so star-struck - and I consider myself a good backgammon player - I was so star struck that I lost the first two games and thought he would think I am an idiot.

"I just couldn't believe I was sitting across from Michael who had won 90-odd races and seven championships.

"Also for me, he is a fantastic person and I got to know him a little bit better in the end, we were on a great wavelength.

"Obviously, it is very tragic what happened after the accident and in a way, I miss him although I have never known him properly because I would have had good exchanges with him."

Before you go...

Which circuits should host an Invitational Grand Prix?

Gasly adamant he was not "broken" by Red Bull axe