Schumacher? Senna? Hamilton says: “There has never been a driver like me”

The seven-time world champion failed to win a race or take a pole position for the first time since making his F1 debut in 2007 during a difficult 2022 campaign. 

Hamilton was also beaten by new teammate George Russell as he slumped to his worst finish in the F1 drivers’ championship amid Mercedes’ challenging start to a new era of aerodynamic regulations. 

It was a year that marked Hamilton’s 300th grand prix, with the Briton ending the season on 310 starts. Curiously, no driver has ever won a race after reaching the milestone, but Hamilton is determined to change that. 

“But there has never been a driver like me either,” Hamilton quipped when informed of the statistic during an interview with Formula 1 Magazine. 

Hamilton opened up about his 2022 struggles and not being able to compete for the world championship after being denied a record-breaking eighth drivers’ crown in the controversial 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. 

“We wanted to hit back after 2021,” Hamilton said. “That was what our drive came from.

“But at one point I thought, ‘God, with this car I really can't fight for the title.’

“If I can say anything about last year, it’s that as a team we’ve only become more resilient and determined.”

Hamilton’s career stats versus other F1 greats 

Lewis Hamilton

Starts: 310 

Championships: 7

Wins: 103

Podiums: 191

Points: 4405.5

Pole Positions: 103 

Michael Schumacher 

Starts: 306 

Championships: 7

Wins: 91

Podiums: 155

Points: 1566

Pole Positions: 68 

Juan Manuel Fangio 

Starts: 51 

Championships: 5

Wins: 24 

Podiums: 35

Points: 245

Pole Positions: 29 

Alain Prost

Starts: 199

Championships: 4 

Wins: 51 

Podiums: 106

Points: 768.5 

Pole Positions: 33

Sebastian Vettel

Starts: 299

Championships: 4

Wins: 53

Podiums: 122

Points: 3098

Pole Positions: 57 

Ayrton Senna 

Starts: 161

Championships: 3

Wins: 41

Podiums: 80

Points: 610

Pole Positions: 65