Back on the road to success

Lauda and Berger waited even longer than Hamilton

Niki Lauda (left) and Gerhard Berger

(Bild: APA/HANS KLAUS TECHT)

Two years, seven months and two days. That's how long Mercedes star Lewis Hamilton had to wait for his 104th victory after his 103rd. Niki Lauda and Gerhard Berger had to wait even longer.

The time between Jeddah 2021 and Silverstone 2024 was a mega-thirsty period for seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. But by no means the longest in the history of the premier class - Lewis is only 25th in this category. Riccardo Patrese leads this ranking of the most patient drivers; the Italian had to wait a whopping six years, six months and 27 days between Kyalami 1983 and San Marino 1990.

Lewis Hamilton

(Bild: AFP)

Two Austrians are also ahead of Sir Hamilton: Niki Lauda waited three years, six months and 25 days between Monza 1978 and Brands Hatch 1982. And Gerhard Berger also had to be patient for two years, eleven months and 27 days - that was the time between his victories at Hockenheim in 1994 and 1997. "As a sportsman, you naturally boil inside," Berger reveals in an interview with the Krone, "because you want to prove that you can still do it. Especially a top man like Lewis, who was so successful."

Hamilton's future racing team Ferrari has lost its technical director, Enrico Cardile, to Aston Martin. The two teams are also competing for Adrian Newey. The design guru, who is leaving Red Bull at the end of the year, is said to have recently visited the British team's factory.