Hamilton extends untouchable F1 longevity record with Barcelona masterclass

The seven-time world champion exploded onto the scene in 2007 and took his first win in just his sixth race at the Canadian Grand Prix. He would go on to win three more races that season and narrowly missed out on the championship by one point to Kimi Raikkonen.

Raikkonen himself was previously the benchmark for this rare measure of endurance, with a 15-year span between his first win at the 2003 Malaysian Grand Prix and his final victory at the 2018 United States Grand Prix. Hamilton went on to beat that record and with his most recent victory at the Barcelona Grand Prix has shattered that mark.

Starting from second on the grid for Ferrari, the 41-year-old produced a strategic masterclass, capitalising on a Virtual Safety Car with a bold three-stop plan to seize the lead and storm to victory by 19.6 seconds. It marked his first win in Ferrari red, his 106th career triumph, and delivered the first all-British podium since 1968, with Mercedes’ George Russell second and McLaren’s Lando Norris third.

Hamilton has become the oldest race winner since Jack Brabham in 1970 and his record of the longest gap between race victories looks like it will be unmatched for some time to come.