Hamilton's seven F1 world championship titles ranked
Hamilton's seven F1 world championship titles ranked
Lewis Hamilton has made Formula 1 history by becoming only the second driver to claim seven drivers' world titles. But which of his successes ranks as the greatest?
Michael Schumacher's record looked to be unreachable when he crossed the line at the 2004 French Grand Prix to secure what would be the last of his seven.
But with Hamilton matching that, it is time for a stroll down memory lane as GPFans ranks the Briton's titles from seven to one.
7. Three in a row, six in total, 2019
{inlineimage[https://sportsbase.io/images/gpfans/copy_620x348/0ddfd987191ddad132ea1247068b35b82f08eda0.jpg][][2]}
7. Three in a row, six in total, 2019
This may be lowest in the rankings, but it doesn't mean we don't rate the title-winning performance.
So often Hamilton has dominated the latter stages of the year, but 2019 saw things flip around as the Mercedes driver won seven of the opening 10 races.
Of the closing 11 rounds, Hamilton would 'only' win on a further four occasions, but with the victories spread between himself, Valtteri Bottas, Sebastian Vettel, Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen, no one driver emerged as a serious championship rival.
6. Ferrari flatter to decieve, 2017
{inlineimage[https://sportsbase.io/images/gpfans/copy_620x348/b1c179a4ab72d7dca134cecd2c3e05f8967bc546.jpg][][2]}
6. Ferrari flatter to decieve, 2017
After Nico Rosberg retired from the sport as the 2016 champion, Bottas became his new team-mate and life has arguably never been simpler for the Briton.
For the first time with Mercedes, the threat did not come from within, but instead from Vettel and Ferrari. The flashpoint came in Azerbaijan where Vettel drove into the side of Hamilton ahead of a safety car restart. That moment aside, Hamilton was scarcely threatened.
A championship-winning margin of just 46 points makes the battle seem a lot closer than it was, with Hamilton securing the title in Mexico with two races to spare.
5. Covid reshuffle, 2020
{inlineimage[https://sportsbase.io/images/gpfans/copy_620x348/490df4715f9666915c7e5176f533f0e08341830a.jpg][][2]}
5. Covid reshuffle, 2020
Hamilton's current title triumph ranks in at number five on this list. To date, he has won 10 of the 14 races and secured nine pole positions.
Yes, the Mercedes W11 is likely to go down as one of the greatest F1 cars of all time such has been its dominance, but what makes this title special is more his off-track activities than his efforts on it.
Hamilton has never been afraid to be his own man, but this year he has been a catalyst for change and for equality. In launching the Hamilton Commission, he is actively seeking to increase diversity in what is, sadly, a white male-dominated environment.
Throughout, and especially in success, Hamilton has pressed home his message for change. F1 and the world have been listening.
4. Hamilton versus Rosberg, part two, 2015
{inlineimage[https://sportsbase.io/images/gpfans/copy_620x348/423d57e3c32d26e1d00d9a20775fbca93b94f9f0.jpg][][2]}
4. Hamilton versus Rosberg, part two, 2015
As was the case in 2015, Mercedes was utterly dominant. Vettel claimed victory on three occasions, but the other 16 races were shared between the two Mercedes drivers, and with Hamilton hammering Rosberg 10-6.
Hamilton secured the title with three races in hand at the United States GP, crushing the dreams of his team-mate who had pushed him all the way just one year earlier.
The only blip on the report card was a run of three defeats to Rosberg at the end of the year as Hamilton took his foot off the gas, allowing the German driver momentum he carried into 2016 when he finally hit back.
3. Hamilton versus Rosberg, part one, 2014
{inlineimage[https://sportsbase.io/images/gpfans/copy_620x348/0340123f7ea9e5e96e30d22ded4e683e84f16694.jpg][][2]}
3. Hamilton versus Rosberg, part one, 2014
When Hamilton joined Mercedes, many questioned the logic of such a move. Mercedes, while growing in competitiveness, was not the championship-winning outfit it is today, and walking away from McLaren seemed like career suicide.
It is safe to say Hamilton has had the last laugh here, and in Rosberg, Hamilton had a team-mate as close to an equal as it was possible to imagine.
Mercedes had benefited greatly from the changed engine regulations with V6 turbo-hybrid power units replacing the V8s, and while races were often a two-horse affair, Rosberg kept Hamilton honest.
With double points controversially on offer in the final race, the title went down to the wire and Hamilton became a champion for the second time in his F1 career.
2. Mercedes under threat, 2018
{inlineimage[https://sportsbase.io/images/gpfans/copy_620x348/958f3fb1746522ad642a28ac9763c7c38528c9a7.jpg][][2]}
2. Mercedes under threat, 2018
Ferrari had threatened to challenge in 2017, but in 2018 Red Bull hit the ground running as well. After six races, Hamilton, Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo each had two wins to their name and a season-long battle appeared inevitable.
Hamilton made sure this was not the case.
Leaving the Hungarian GP and heading into the summer break, Hamilton enjoyed a 24-point margin over second-placed Vettel, a comfortable but not considerable margin. The Briton, however, then piled up six wins in the final nine races to pummel the opposition into submission.
With an 88-point gap back to Vettel at the end of the year, Hamilton defeated the German in the 'Fight for Five' and delivered a blow the Ferrari driver has never truly recovered from.
1. Title number one, 2008
{inlineimage[https://sportsbase.io/images/gpfans/copy_620x348/6d24a09ec8d887db70f4e0b6a78f786edaaee3c9.jpg][][2]}
1. Title number one, 2008
Hamilton faced more competition for a title than he has since. Robert Kubica led the championship after the Canadian GP and Kimi Raikkonen was a clear and obvious threat ahead of a mid-season slump, but Hamilton's chief rival was Felipe Massa.
Indeed, when Massa crossed the line to win the season-ending Brazilian GP, Hamilton was sixth, a place lower than he needed to be to secure the title.
Then came those immortal words. "Is that Glock?" Yes, it was the German Toyota driver, and yes Hamilton passed him on the final corner of the last lap to ensure that his first championship triumph is still Hamilton's greatest.
Before you go...
Why Hamilton "burst into tears" after taking seventh F1 world title
Sainz and Norris “saved the day” for McLaren
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Newey Red Bull EXIT date revealed as F1 star confirmed at new team - GPFans F1 Recap
- 1 hour ago
Verstappen takes F1 swipe at Hamilton and rivals with ruthless remark
- 2 hours ago
Marko defends Ricciardo in 'unbelievable' idiot claim
- 3 hours ago
Hamilton hints at sensational Newey arrival at Ferrari
- Yesterday 20:57
Suspended Red Bull employee 'grilled' as Horner saga given potential END DATE
- Yesterday 19:57
BLOW for former F1 champion as Mercedes preferences revealed
- Yesterday 18:58
Related news
BLOW for former F1 champion as Mercedes preferences revealed
McLaren leading fight for HUGE cash injection
Incredible statistic puts Verstappen AHEAD of Hamilton record
Fierce rival calls Hamilton F1's GOAT in surprise admission
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860