Ranking Lewis Hamilton’s Championships

2019 saw Lewis Hamilton inch ever closer to the astounding seven world titles earned by Michael Schumacher. It’s not hard to imagine 2020 will see the Brit match the record and clinch championships across three decades.

In 2018, Hamilton matched the five championships Fangio recorded, an outstanding accomplishment. His 2019 triumph means he is outright in second place, with Schumacher’s record the final step to ascend.

It seems almost unfair that Schumacher’s record-breaking championships and race wins are now the barometers for Hamilton’s success. The German’s prolific career was judged insurmountable by many fans after his (first) retirement in 2006. That we mention Hamilton alongside the Schumacher records is an achievement in itself.

If, as many expect, Hamilton does make it to seven titles in 2020 (or beyond), his sixth title in 2019 may get overlooked as just another championship won in superior machinery, against challengers who couldn’t consistently compete. It’s an overly simplistic view, but it’s not entirely wrong.

However, any world championship won is a monumental achievement, especially in a 21-race season. So instead of comparing Hamilton to Schumacher or any other great, let’s rank his titles against each other instead.

6th – 2015 season

In Numbers

Points – 381 (59 ahead of 2nd place Rosberg with 322)

Race wins – 10 (53% of 19 races)

Podiums – 17 (89%)

Pole Positions – 11 (58%)

The entire turbo-hybrid era appears to indicate Mercedes being on top for the duration. It’s not as clear when looking closer. Ferrari arguably had the better car at multiple points since 2017. But 2014 to 2016 was a completely different story. From Q1 at Melbourne this season, it was clear there wasn’t going to be any match for the Silver Arrows. Disappointing as it was for a fan, it was hard not to be impressed by the supremacy of the team.

The title fight was over by the end of the Austin Grand Prix, with three races left on the calendar. The ten victories and eleven poles Hamilton accumulated on his way to the title were all in the 16 Grands Prix, where the championship battle was still alive. Nico Rosberg and Sebastian Vettel won three races each during this time; a combined effort that was still way off the record of Hamilton. With the title wrapped up, Lewis took his foot off the gas, almost literally. No wins nor poles from then on out.

It was the drive of a champion up until he secured his crown. The rise of Rosberg took the form of victory in the final three races of the season, giving him momentum to seize the first four race wins of 2016 too. Hamilton won the 2015 title at a canter, but he might’ve inadvertently lost 2016 in his celebration races at the end.

5th place – 2019 season

In Numbers

Points – 413 (87 ahead of 2nd place Bottas with 326)

Race wins – 11 (52% of 21 races)

Podiums – 17 (81%)

Pole Positions – 5 (24%)

Valtteri Bottas may have been his closest rival through the 2019 season, but in all honesty, there was no opposition throughout the year. By the midseason break, Hamilton had eight wins, and the brief Ferrari resurgence did nothing to prevent the inevitable.

You can only beat what’s in front of you. Hamilton’s racing was as consistent as it has ever been throughout 2019. His usual impeccable qualifying record did take a downturn this season though. It was the only season, aside from 2014, in the turbo-hybrid era when Hamilton didn’t take at least half of the pole positions over the year.