10 years ago… Hamilton had his first day at Mercedes

Is Lewis Hamilton remembers his first day at Mercedes ? And, above all, could he have imagined where this adventure would take him? On January 24, 2012, the Briton took on the role of star driver, with a title of world champion in Formula 1 gleaned alongside McLaren in 2008. A look back at 10 years of epic journey to the summit.

178 departures

The driver has appeared on the grid of a Formula 1 Grand Prix 310 times. 178 under the colors of the German team. But this statistic is one of those in which Lewis is not the first, 46 lengths behind another veteran and world champion who intends to inflate this figure... Fernando Alonso. Hamilton should move to third in the standings at the end of an extended 2023 season, replacing Rubens Barrichello (323 starts). As for Raïkkönen (2nd with 350 starts), the Mercedes driver must wait a little longer.

133 podiums

That is 75% of the time on a podium since his first Grand Prix start in a Mercedes. And, even in the most difficult seasons, the driver has always been able to find his way into the top 3. The year 2022 marks his worst result in Formula 1 with a 6th place in the Drivers' Championship, behind his teammate and rookie George Russell . A rare thing, since with 6 different teammates in his career, Lewis Hamilton has only been outclassed three times: by Button in 2011, Rosberg in 2016, and Russell. 

And yet, the Briton has been on the podium 9 times even in a dark year, notably on his home soil of Silverstone (England). A result that he owes to his ability to take opportunities, to maximize the potential of his car, but also... to a rainbow-colored helmet, representing the LGBT flag. A helmet which seemed to bring him luck until the Spa-Francorchamps Grand Prix (Belgium), where the driver made his one and only retirement of the season.

Hamilton and his LGBT helmet in Hungary. ©Joao Filipe / DPPI

82 wins

Lewis Hamilton made his debut in Formula 1 in 2007. And, until last season, never had a campaign in the premier category not seen a victory for the Briton. Over his entire career, he won 33% of the races in which he participated. Result: 103 victories, including 82 at Mercedes... with almost every second meeting dominated by Hamilton since 2013. A number which makes him the driver with the most racing success in the history of the discipline. The 2021 Russian Grand Prix will see Hamilton stand on the top step of the podium for the 100th time.

The Briton also holds the record for victories on the greatest number of different circuits, winning on 31 tracks. 

77 pole positions

With all the smaller Pirelli tires he has gleaned in ten years at Mercedes, Lewis can support the needs of a miniature Formula 1 championship without any problem. King in the race, but also in qualifying, the score is the same for the driver: 103 at the wheel of a car silver. Absolute record in the category, again. He passed the dizzying milestone of 100 pole positions signed during the Barcelona Grand Prix (Spain) in 2021, but one of his finest performances on a fast lap took the form of the Singapore circuit. In 2018 at Marina Bay, the world champion is transparent in the last free practice session... to shine even more in Q3. The just over 5 kilometers are covered in 1 minute 36 minutes, 3 and a half seconds less than the previous record set. A trick that he himself describes as “magical” when he gets out of his seat.

6 world titles

Add the one won at McLaren during his second season in the premier category, and you get 7. The equal of Michael Schumacher. But, above all, the illustration of Mercedes' unchallenged domination from 2014 to 2021. The Brackley team was able to count on Lewis and his various teammates to bring it 8 Constructors' championship crowns in a row.

The supremacy of King Lewis only had two troublemakers: Nico Rosberg, 2016 world champion, and Max Verstappen. But the king is not dead, despite stifled hopes of revenge in 2022. The W13 is incomprehensible and the shift in the new regulations is poorly negotiated. It's both a porpoising problem and the concerns of an entire team weighing on Lewis Hamilton's back. But the Silver Arrows offer themselves a promising third place in the Manufacturers which leaves one wondering about the Briton's 2023 campaign. Enough to write new chapters and break new records.

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