Lewis Hamilton could help Mercedes match a 31-year Formula 1 record at the Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday, but don't think it's high on his priority list this weekend, the five-time World Champion said Thursday.
Hamilton and fellow Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas have combined to win all eight races this season. Dating back to last year, Mercedes' winning streak consists of 10 races, leaving the team one short of the all-time best mark set by McLaren more than three decades ago.
Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost won the first 11 races of 1988, the season that would see Senna winning his first of three F1 titles.
For Hamilton who has always played down his record-breaking achievements, however, matching that milestone won't be on his mind for Sunday's race.
While he said he's proud to help Mercedes set new benchmarks in the sport, the old McLaren record "is not anywhere near the top 50 of the list of priorities for me on the race weekend."
Hamilton said that the heatwave in Central Europe is more of a concern, with temperatures around the high-altitude track expected to rise to 33 degrees Celsius (91 F).
"That's going to be a problem all around," Hamilton said. "For sure all the engineers are on the edge of their seats, a bit nervous because it is very hot here ... The cars are always on their limit with the cooling. They have to open up the car to create cooling."
Last year Max Verstappen won the race against the backdrop of the Austrian Alps. While Red Bull has not really threatened any of the Mercedes wins this season, Ferrari came tantalizingly close when Sebastian Vettel crossed the line first at the Canadian Grand Prix, only to lose his victory due to a five-second penalty which handed runner-up Hamilton another victory.
After winning the French Grand in Le Castellet last Sunday, Hamilton said "I totally understand" when people call Formula 1 boring. Hamilton led from start to finish in the race and Mercedes is heading for its sixth straight drivers' and constructors' championship.
And Hamilton wasn't expecting an exciting race on Sunday, either. While the track with just 10 turns and the shortest lap time of all circuits usually offers limited possibilities for overtaking, it might become even harder this time.
"Having to cool your car, (you have to) pull back from the car in front of you," Hamilton said. "I hope it's still a good race."
Big Question: Are F1 records important?
https://www.grandprix247.com/2018/10/18/hamilton-beating-schumachers-records-was-never-the-plan/
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