Hamilton in the promised land in the United States

Wherever he went, Lewis Hamilton triumphed, or almost. With 100 victories to his name, the Englishman has become the biggest winner than the Formula 1 has experienced since his debut in 1950. China, Hungary, Spain, France, England, the seven-time world champion has left his mark on many countries.

This weekend, the Briton is packing his bags in the United States, another country where he has been on a roll since his first laps in F1 14 years ago. Only pilot with Fernando Alonso, Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Räikkönen to have experienced Indianapolis and the Circuit of the Americas, Lewis Hamilton seems to be arriving in the promised land this week. A promised land which could be of great help to him in the quest for an 8th world crown.

Comme à la maison

The story between Lewis Hamilton and the United States began 14 years ago. In 2007, the year of his debut with the big boys, the young adult from Stevenage impressed with his talent and great maturity. Crowned with his first success in F1 seven days earlier on the Canadian side, the Briton was going to strike a big blow by winning at Indianapolis, a circuit that he was barely discovering that weekend, against the big names of the era such as Kimi Räikkönen, Felipe Massa and his much-feared teammate Fernando Alonso, before a long break.

For his first in the United States, the Englishman won in Indianapolis. ©DPPI

Orphaned by the USA and Indianapolis the following season, Formula 1 returned to America in 2012 but in Austin. No more banking and time for a bumpy circuit in the heart of Texas. Despite a five-year separation, Lewis Hamilton immediately returned to success in Uncle Sam's country. For his last in the Americas under the colors of McLaren, he became the first winner in COTA history, thus launching the beginning of great domination among cowboys.

Victorious for the first arrival of the paddock in Austin, Lewis Hamilton then presented himself as the big boss in Texas. Although absent from the podium in 2013, the only time in 9 participations in the United States GP, the driver Mercedes would later prove intractable.

As in Indianapolis, Lewis Hamilton won the first edition of the GP in Austin. ©DPPI

The German team in Olympic form with all the pole positions of the hybrid era won (since 2014), the now seven-time champion had four consecutive victories in Texas (2014 to 2017) before finishing 3rd in 2018 and 2nd in 2019, date of the last representation of F1 on site, thus further proving its ease on American soil. What to expect from a one-way weekend this year?

Victory or nothing

In the Americas, the Englishman arrives in the shoes of the hunter of Max Verstappen which has 6 points more overall but especially in that of the big favorite. Although he only has 5 wins compared to 7 for the Dutchman, Sir Lewis has many factors in his advantage. With a cooler engine, due to the installation of a new ICE (internal combustion engine) during the Turkish Grand Prix a fortnight ago, the W12 of the record holder for F1 victories seems to be returning to its former form evidenced by his pole position in Istanbul but also the clear success of his teammate Valtteri Bottas in front of Verstappen confirming the great progress of Brackley's teams in recent weeks.

In Austin, everything suggests that the two strong men of this 2021 campaign will engage in a new battle on the track. This time, it should be on equal terms, or almost, since their engines have been refurbished for the final straight of the season even if the hunter seems a notch above the hunted after the Turkish event .

Despite Bottas' victory in 2019, Hamilton was crowned world champion for the 6th time in his career. ©DPPI

As the Grand Prix approaches, Lewis Hamilton seems more than ever on his way to a 7th success in the United States, the 6th at COTA, even to the point of worrying his biggest rivals. “ Their speed has taken a glaring step recently, and I think we can't fight, unlike in recent times when we could fight with disengaged fins., pointed out the main team Red Bull Christian Horner after Turkey. We need to find some speed in a straight line – maybe they were using a different downforce configuration, but there's still some speed to be found (…) And we have some tracks coming up which hopefully , suits us, but we know Austin is Hamilton territory, so we will have to be impeccable »

From the top of his 8 podiums and 6 victories in 9 races in the United States, the reigning world champion already seems destined for victory in Austin, even before the start of the weekend. But will he be able to confirm it on the track against Max Verstappen who is ready to do anything to retain his leadership position at the end of the American round? It's up to Sir Lewis to show that he still has that little something extra that has allowed him to make such a mark on the history of Formula 1.

Are we going to be entitled to the famous Hammer Time this year? ©DPPI