Lewis Hamilton has said he regards his first Formula One race as the highlight of his career as he prepares to take part in his 300th race at the French Grand Prix this weekend. The 37-year-old added that during his 16-season F1 career he rated double world champion Fernando Alonso as his most formidable opponent.
Hamilton made his F1 debut in 2007 in Melbourne aged 22, the culmination of a lifelong ambition to make it to F1. “The whole realization of achieving your dream is a very, very surreal experience, it’s always going to be your first, there’s only one first,” he said. “Just getting to the first grand prix in 2007, the amount of sleepless nights we all had as a family not knowing if we were going to achieve our dream, but never giving up and being there, that’s probably going to be the real highlight” .
In bringing up his triple century on Sunday, Hamilton will join a select group of drivers. Only five others have competed in 300 or more grands prix, with Kimi Räikkönen leading the pack with 349. Alonso with 344 is the only other active driver to reach the milestone, while Rubens Barrichello raced in 322 and Michael Schumacher and Jenson Button 306 each. .
Hamilton insists he doesn’t pay attention to statistics, but it’s worth noting that none of those five drivers won a race after breaking the 300 mark. As things stand, doing so this season will be a task, but he remains optimistic despite this being the longest time he has gone without a win.
“It doesn’t bother me because I’m working to get this win,” he said. “I think we’ll be able to compete with these guys at some point. Whether it’s this weekend or five races from now.”
In that debut season he joined Alonso, then reigning world champion, at McLaren and the pair had a conflicted relationship, such was the intensity of the competition between them.
When asked who he sees as the biggest challenge of his career, the seven-time champion named the Spaniard.
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“I remember the task of being with Fernando when I was 22, I was so young mentally,” he said. “It’s a lot of pressure to face a great like him, for sheer pace and skill I’d say it’s Fernando. We had some good battles.”
Alonso, who made his debut in 2001 but has not challenged Hamilton since he drove for Ferrari between 2010 and 2014, in turn paid tribute to his rival. “I don’t think it’s changed,” he said. “He had talent in 2007 and he still has it now. With experience he’s been a great driver, a legend in our sport.”