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Hamilton and Schumacher have won a combined total of 91 Formula 1 victories. Which list of the top 10 drivers should be chosen when combining their results?
With Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher tied at 91 Grand Prix victories, the age-old debate has been reignited: how can you compare triumphs achieved in cars that couldn't be more different? Before the record finally tips in Hamilton's favor, we can examine each driver's most iconic victories and see what they tell us about the evolution of Formula 1. Below are places 10 to 6 in a new ranking that evaluates each victory based on the circumstances of the day, its impact on the sport, and the driver's legacy. 10 – China, 2011 (Hamilton) The race that proved a McLaren could still beat a Red Bull.
Hamilton's qualifying lap in Shanghai was ruined by an incident caused by an air filter failure and an oil leak, but he still qualified well. At the start, he overtook Sebastian Vettel and quickly found himself in a duel with his teammate Jenson Button. The Grand Prix saw six different leaders, and Hamilton's aggressive three-stop strategy paid off. He made a flawless pass on Button on the straight, without DRS, then passed Nico Rosberg and Felipe Massa before closing in on Vettel in the long left-hand corner on lap seven, four laps from the finish. “This is one of the best races of my career,” he said later. This victory came during a difficult year for the Briton, but his masterful management of the new Pirelli tires and his ability to get the most out of a car that was no longer the benchmark showed that Hamilton could still prevail against Red Bull's dominance. 9 – Belgium, 1997 (Schumacher)
A masterful domination in the rain at Spa. Starting third in his Ferrari on a wet Spa-Francorchamps circuit, Schumacher threw himself into the chaos of the first lap, overtaking Jean Alesi's Benetton at the end of the first lap, then catching up with Jacques Villeneuve's Williams, in the lead, in the “Rivage” right-hand corner. The German driver built up a considerable lead, at one point leading by a minute with nine laps to go, before easing off to cross the finish line 27 seconds ahead. This victory cemented Schumacher's reputation as the “master of the rain” and marked the beginning of a close relationship with Spa, a circuit where he would later win six times out of 16 attempts between 1992 and 1997.
8 – Monaco, 2019 (Hamilton) A moving tribute in a tactical battle. Thirty-seven years after the duel between Senna and Mansell in 1992, Hamilton faced Max Verstappen on the streets of Monte Carlo. Starting from pole position, Hamilton pitted on lap 9 to change his tires and switch to medium tires, while Verstappen opted for harder tires, creating a clear gap in tire performance for the remaining 69 laps. The Dutchman put the pressure on, even attempting an inside move coming out of the tunnel, but Hamilton's constant defense and flawless tire management allowed him to claim his third victory in Monaco (after 2008 and 2016). He later described the race as “one of the most difficult of my career.” This victory had personal significance: it was a tribute to Niki Lauda, the Mercedes advisor who had convinced Hamilton to leave McLaren in 2012. Hamilton paid tribute to Lauda by wearing a red helmet on the radio as he crossed the finish line, a gesture that turned a strategic victory into a heartfelt farewell to his mentor.
7 – Hungary, 1998 (Schumacher)
At the Hungaroring, strategy trumped speed. Ferrari's master plan, devised by technical director Ross Brawn, was for Schumacher to qualify with a light fuel load and then make three pit stops to force the two McLarens of Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard into a reactive pace. The gamble paid off: Schumacher took the lead, building a 25-second gap in just 19 laps and ultimately winning the race while his rivals struggled to catch up. The race highlighted the symbiotic relationship between Schumacher and his team, a partnership that would dominate the early 2000s under the leadership of Jean Todt and Brawn, and underscored how a well-chosen refueling strategy could transform a twisty, low-speed circuit into a showcase for brilliant tactics.
6. Germany 2018 (Hamilton)
The circumstances of the victory:
No one predicted Lewis Hamilton's victory at Hockenheim, especially after he qualified in 14th place due to a hydraulic problem. The rain that fell that day turned the track into a playground for the talented British driver. By lap 15, he had already climbed to fifth place and continued to work his way through the field, overtaking a dozen rivals. Confident in the weather, Hamilton extended his stint, hoping the rain would intensify. It paid off: when Sebastian Vettel crashed in the stadium section on lap 54 and a pit stop penalty was not enforced, Hamilton inherited the lead, even after briefly cutting the grass before the pit lane, an illegal maneuver that went unnoticed. While Vettel made a costly mistake, Hamilton maintained his lead, and his podium finish in the rain sealed a decisive victory. The impact of the victory: This Sunday at Hockenheim marked a turning point in the 2018 championship, which had been dominated by Vettel until that point. Vettel's mistake allowed Hamilton to take the lead, which he never relinquished. This victory came at a time when Ferrari's threat in the hybrid era was at its peak, and it gave Hamilton the advantage over his main rival. Even within the Mercedes garage, strategist James Vowles asked Valtteri Bottas not to challenge the Englishman in order to secure maximum points. This performance underscored Hamilton's status as the future five-time world champion, a title he would officially win later that year, in October 2018, in Mexico.
