Lewis Hamilton is undoubtedly one of the greatest drivers to grace the sport of F1. The 7-times world champion is on the brink of unprecedented success as he aims to win an incredible 8th world title this season. Ever since he stepped into an F1 car, Lewis felt like home. The Mercedes superstar has shown incredible consistency since his rookie year, scarcely has any rival been able to match him. However, there are a few outliers who managed to one up the 36-year-old.
Four F1 rivals who beat Lewis Hamilton through the course of an F1 season
1) Sebastian Vettel
The first name that immediately springs to mind is that of Sebastian Vettel. The ex-Ferrari driver was Lewis’ only rival who beat him to the title not once but four times consecutively.
In fact, at the start of the decade, it could have been easy to suggest that Vettel would have been in Hamilton’s place. However, after beating Hamilton from 2010 to 2013, the introduction of the V6-hybrid engine and Sebastian’s move to Ferrari, saw him unable to sustain a challenge as Lewis swooped past him to win 6 of the next seven world titles.
2) Nico Rosberg
Hamilton’s next and indeed his most recent adversary was his teammate Nico Rosberg. The German driver had forever been in the Briton’s shadow. But finally he decided that he had had enough. Rosberg became an absolute machine, akin to Hamilton himself, in the 2016 season.
Nico would win 9 of the races that year, and in an incredibly tense final race in Abu Dhabi, Rosberg displayed nerves of steel to seal his maiden F1 championship. However, doing battle with Hamilton had taken a lot out of Rosberg. Having won what he always desired to win, the German subsequently called it a day.
3) Kimi Raikkonen
F1’s grand old man, Kimi Raikkonen, was Lewis’ first title rival. It was Hamilton’s first season when he came up against Kimi, who was racing for Ferrari. The Finn had already been on the F1 circuit for 6 years by that time and had come close to winning the title in two previous occasions.
In 2007 though, Raikkonen would be third time lucky. But it wasn’t an easy task by any stretch of the imagine. The season saw an incredibly thrilling three way title race with Raikkonen, Hamilton and Alonso pushing each other all the way. In the end, however, it was the Finn who emerged victorious thanks in no small part to Hamilton’s major error whilst on his way to the pitlane in the penultimate race.
4) Jenson Button
Jenson Button was the only other driver to win a championship in the Hamilton era. Button, Lewis’ countryman, swept the 2009 F1 season with Brawn GP who would later go onto become Mercedes F1.
Hamilton had come into that season having won his maiden crown in 2008. But this time around, the then McLaren driver couldn’t defend his title as he only managed a 5th place finish. Button blazed the first half of the season, winning 6 of the opening 8 races. Although he faded a way in the second half of the season, he had done more than enough to win his first and only championship.
These 4 drivers have been the only ones to deny Hamilton a championship. Who will be the next to do so? Maybe Max Verstappen’s new lid could inspire him. But we’ll only have to wait and watch. Perhaps the 2021 season can give us some answers.
Also Read: Mercedes Tech Director Reveals How Lewis Hamilton Stands Out From Other F1 Drivers
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