26 SPORTS
THE FOUNDER October 2021
Lewis Hamilton: 100 Races Won, Will There be 100 Races More?
CYANN FIELDING | LIFESTYLE EDITOR
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t is hardly surprising, but Lewis Hamilton has hit another milestone in his career. At the end of September, Hamilton secured his 100th victory in Formula 1, snatching pole position within the last laps from McLaren’s Lando Norris. With winning a race in all 15 of his seasons, Hamilton has achieved something no other driver has managed to in the existence of the sport. But after narrowly achieving his centenary win, questions have been raised over the remainder of Hamilton’s career in Formula 1 – with many Source: Jen Ross press outlets assuming the world champion is not far It remains clear that Hamilton’s departure is out of the picture for the next couple of years – from his retirement. unless something monumental happens – as at the beginning of the 2021 season, he signed a contract to drive with Mercedes until at least 2023. Whilst his retirement may not be long after his So, if his retirement is contract’s expiry, it is all-but likely that he will still be challenging for the next couple of years. pending, what can we However, this may be in a different position we are used to seeing the top Mercedes driver in. expect of the Brit in the The season so far has been a tough one for Hamilton and his fans alike – full of feuds, crashes, years to come? and silly mistakes: it appears that the reigning champion is either not as good as he once was, or his competition has intensified. In either case, Formula 1 fans may witness his downfall from the front row over the next couple of years as the hot prospects begin to overtake the veteran.
Should There Be a World Cup Every Two Years? PETER GEDDES | CONTENT WRITER
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he sudden return of Arsène Wenger into the football news cycle has taken many by surprise, but in his role as FIFA’s chief of global football development, the proposal he is pushing to reshape the future of the international game is more outlandish than one might expect.
Saying this, the day will finally come where the 36-year-old decides to hang up his helmet. And whilst this may be a sad day for many, others will choose to follow his new journey outside the sport – in what should be – a success story. Despite rumours that we could see him in the fashion industry after his F1 days are done, Hamilton will never ‘leave’ the sport completely. Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, he said: ‘I could stay involved in F1 after retirement and I think I want to’. Whilst he did not specify what this would be exactly, it would not be surprising to see him in the position of a figurehead, coach, or even team principal. For many, seeing Hamilton stay within the sport would be a dream. It is also obvious that having Lewis Hamilton as a part of your team would be a serious advantage, offering tutelage to the younger drivers. Even if he does not stay within the sport at all, his legacy will - all the work he has done to ensure the sport becomes more inclusive will remain, and he will always be a huge part of that. Formula 1 is not losing its top driver anytime soon. But the next few years will be interesting for Hamilton and Mercedes as the sport evolves without him. Retirement or no retirement, it is without doubt that the Briton is the best driver the sport has ever witnessed. The question that will remain, is whether he makes the same impact outside, or still inside, of the sport when he does eventually move on.
