2015 Singapore Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton looking to tie Ayrton Senna’s record of consecutive pole positions and race wins
The 2015 Singapore Grand Prix would present a chance at making history as much as title defence for Mercedes’ driver Lewis Hamilton. The British racing driver is looking to claim his eighth consecutive pole position and eighth race victory, which would tie him with Ayrton Senna’s record.
After claiming his most recent win at the Italian Grand Prix, Hamilton revealed his fascination with Senna, who was one of the greatest drivers to ever grace the sports of motor racing, in an interview with Sky Sports. The 30-year-old Briton said that he wants to imitate Senna’s success in Formula One (F1), but also made it clear that he wants to be inimitable in his own way.
This season’s upcoming race at the Marina Bay Circuit, Hamilton will have the chance to be tie with Senna’s all-time record of eighth consecutive pole positions and 41 race wins. Hamilton said he feels “proud” to be at par with the Brazilian racing driver in terms of results.
“It’s quite surreal to think that 20 years later, I am fighting for a similar number of podiums or championships,” Hamilton said. “But we have to remember that if he continued, he would have won more.”
In the past 12 rounds of the 2015 F1 season, Hamilton claimed 11 pole positions. Since the Monaco Grand Prix, no other driver has ever been able to topple the Briton from taking the pole position. Senna’s all-time record of eight consecutive pole positions was achieved between the 1988 Spanish Grand Prix and the 1989 U.S. Grand Prix. If Hamilton finishes on top of the podium that the Singapore Grand Prix, it would tie Senna’s record of 41 race wins.
The reigning F1 champion, who is the youngest driver to win the World Championship, has won seven of the 12 races, giving him a comfortable 53 lead over his Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg to defend his title. Hamilton has won the Singapore Grand Prix twice in 2009 and 2014. He is tied with McLaren-Honda’s Fernando Alonso, who has also won the race twice in 2008 and 2010.
Hamilton has touched down in Asia ahead of this weekend’s Grand Prix event on Tuesday. The British sent a tweet to his 2.9 million followers that he arrived in Singapore on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Executive Director Paddy Lowe is looking forward for a memorable weekend in the 13th round of the 2015 F1 season. In a statement on Mercedes’ website, Lowe said that they are positive to have a “strong result” after Sunday’s main race.
“It’s an interesting event, running on European time to allow for night-time track running and provides a significant physical test for drivers and team members alike,” Lowe said. “It’s one that we all look forward to and we’ll be hoping to make it a memorable weekend.”
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