Lewis Hamilton has this week joined a group of drivers who have won three hundred or more F1 races. These drivers never won a race after the 299th of their career. The statement after this weekend is: Drivers with more than three hundred races are finished with their F1 career.

The curse of three hundred races

It is a great achievement for Hamilton, but it is also a confrontational moment. The six drivers in the group of three hundred have never won a race since joining the club. Kimi Raikkonen leads the list of the most driven Grands Prix and is overtaken by Fernando Alonso in Singapore this year. Also on the list are Rubens Barrichello, Jenson Button and Michael Schumacher. The fact that all these great drivers have never won a race since they turned three hundred perhaps says something about drivers who have been in Formula 1 for so long in general.

We are lucky as F1 fans to have so many drivers with so much experience on the grid in recent years. The drivers with experience and a long history in F1 have built a character in Formula 1 and provide a good (historical) sensation during the races. Because the seasons are longer, the strong drivers of the past twenty years are also automatically the drivers with the most Grands Prix. On the other hand, it is a pity that we never see these drivers win after their three hundredth race. Currently it is up to Alonso and Hamilton to break this curse. For Alonso it would have to be a fluke and for Hamilton, although possible, it still seems a long way off.

A natural F1 career

The trend is that drivers who have raced so many races are at some point past their prime and can no longer compete for wins and titles. They may not be fit enough, there may be a lack of confidence, they may have taken a break from racing or they may just be useful as an experienced hand to help up-and-coming talent and gather data. For Hamilton, a victory might still be possible after his 300th Grand Prix, but that too remains to be seen. No one knows if he will be able to do so this season and no one knows if the Briton will continue next season.

The same goes for the drivers on the list below Hamilton. Sebastian Vettel is heading for 300 races, Felipe Massa retired after 269 races, but both seem unable to win a race at the end of their long careers. Stopping at one's peak is tricky and difficult to determine in any sport, and with greats of such calibre as those on this list, it may be impossible to ever stop at one's peak. After all, achieving so many Grands Prix is also an achievement in itself.

Drivers with more than three hundred F1 races completed

The proposition revolves around the question of whether drivers with more than three hundred races are fought out and should still hold a place in F1. It is a well-known debate about the balance between the presence of experienced drivers and opportunities for emerging young talents. Since drivers with more than 300 races have never won a race in recent years, it is perhaps good to conclude that drivers with more than 300 races are finished with their F1 careers. What do you think? Let us know in the poll and write a comment.