Why Lewis Hamilton ranks potential eighth title the 'most significant'

Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

Why Hamilton ranks potential eighth title the 'most significant'

Hamilton must overturn an eight-point margin in two races to clinch an eighth world title

Ewan Gale

Thursday 2 December 2021 16:20

Lewis Hamilton has declared a title win this season would be the most significant of what would be a record eight F1 triumphs.

The Mercedes driver arrived in Saudi Arabia with an eight-point deficit to rival Max Verstappen with two races to go after clawing back some of the difference with back to back victories in Brazil and Qatar.

A championship victory would be Hamilton's seventh in eight years and take him beyond Michael Schumacher's total to stand on his own at the top of the record books.

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Asked ahead of the inaugural Saudi Arabian Grand Prix if a win this year would be the most significant given the season-long tussle with Verstappen, Hamilton insisted: "It would be for sure.

"One [reason] being that it is something that no one has ever done before. It has been against the toughest battle I think the sport has seen in a long long time and the most challenging. I think collectively, it would be.

"Plus, we are in a pandemic and all sorts of things we have been faced with."

Comparing the title fight with Verstappen to his previous battles, Hamilton explained there are "a couple" of differences.

"It is different in one sense because we have got two incredibly close teams," added Hamilton.

"It is different because we are, as a team, fighting for uncharted territory, no one has ever won eight titles in teams' or drivers' so that is fresh and new.

"On the other side, I am more related than I have ever been because I have been around a long time. It is not my first.

"I remember how I was in my first championship and even my second and third, the sleepless nights and all those sorts of things. Now I am very sure about myself and apply myself better than before.

"I know I can't change anything from the past but all I can do is prepare the best I can for what's up ahead of me and I 100 per cent know I have."