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Where does Lewis Hamilton rank among the Formula 1 greats?

Lewis Hamilton won his 50th Grand Prix at Austin on Sunday to help cement his place among the greats of Formula 1.

By Simeon Gholam

Monday 24 October 2016 14:27, UK

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - NOVEMBER 23: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP celebrates with his team after winning the World Championsh

After the Mercedes driver claimed his 50th F1 win, we look at where he ranks amongst the greats of Formula 1.

Already third on the all-time list, the British driver now needs just two more victories to go above Alain Prost into second behind Michael Schumacher. The German legend remains the most successful driver in F1 history with 91 wins. 

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But where does Hamilton rank among the greats of the sport? Here, we take a look at several factors including Grand Prix wins, pole positions and world titles, as well as a few of his individual statistics, to assess the Mercedes driver's position...

Most Grand Prix wins

Driver Wins Years active
Michael Schumacher 91 1991-06 and 2010-12
Alain Prost 51 1980-91 and 1993
Lewis Hamilton 50 2007-present
Sebastian Vettel 42 2007-present
Ayrton Senna 41 1984-94
Fernando Alonso 32 2001 and 2003-present
SHANGHAI, CHINA - OCTOBER 01: Michael Schumacher of Germany and Ferrari celebrates on the podium after winning the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix at Shang
Image: Michael Schumacher celebrates his 91st and final F1 win at the Chinese Grand Prix in October 2006

Most Drivers' Championship wins

Driver No of wins Years won
Michael Schumacher 7 1994, 95, 00, 01, 02, 03, 04
Juan Manuel Fango 5 1951, 54, 55, 56, 57
Alain Prost 4 1985, 86, 89, 93
Sebastian Vettel 4 2010, 11, 12, 13
Jack Brabham 3 1959, 60, 66
Jackie Stewart 3 1969, 71, 73
Niki Lauda 3 1975, 77, 84
Nelson Piquet 3 1975, 77, 84
Ayrton Senna 3 1988, 90, 91
Lewis Hamilton 3 2008. 14, 15
Image: Hamilton celebrates winning the world championship in Brazil in 2008

Most pole positions

Driver Poles First/last pole
Michael Schumacher 68 1994/06
Ayrton Senna 65 1985/94
Lewis Hamilton 58 2007/16
Sebastian Vettel 46 2008/15
Jim Clark 33 1962/68
Alain Prost 33 1981/93
Ayrton Senna of Brazil sits aboard the #12 Camel Team Lotus Honda Lotus 99T Honda RA166E V6 turbo during practice for the Brazilian Grand Prix on 11th Apri
Image: Ayrton Senna managed 66 pole positions during his career

Consecutive F1 seasons with at least one win

Driver Consecutive years with win Seasons
Michael Schumacher 15 1992-2006
Alain Prost 10 1981-1990
Lewis Hamilton 10 2007-2016*
Ayrton Senna 9 1985-1993
Nelson Piquet 8 1980-1988
Juan Manuel Fangio** 7 1950-1957
Jim Clark 7 1962-1968
Sir Stirling Moss 7 1955-1961
David Coulthard 7 1997-2003
* Run still active
** Didn't contest the 1952 season
1988: McLaren Honda driver Alain Prost of France partakes in the traditional champagne celebration after his victory in the Brazilian Grand Prix at the Ri
Image: Alain Prost celebrates winning the Brazilian Grand Prix in 1988 with McLaren

Hamilton's Grand Prix wins

Win number Grand Prix Car Grid position
1 Canada 2007 McLaren MP4-22 1
2 US '07 McLaren MP4-22 1
3 Hungary '07 McLaren MP4-22 1
4 Japan '07 McLaren MP4-22 1
5 Australia 2008 McLaren MP4-23 1
6 Monaco '08 McLaren MP4-23 3
7 Great Britain '08 McLaren MP4-23 4
8 Germany '08 McLaren MP4-23 1
9 China '08 McLaren MP4-23 1
10 Hungary 2009 McLaren MP4-24 4
11 Singapore '09 McLaren MP4-24 1
12 Turkey 2010 McLaren MP4-25 2
13 Canada '10 McLaren MP4-25 1
14 Belgium '10 McLaren MP4-25 2
15 China 2011 McLaren MP4-26 3
16 Germany '11 McLaren MP4-26 2
17 Abu Dhabi '11 McLaren MP4-26 2
18 Canada 2012 McLaren MP4-27 2
19 Hungary '12 McLaren MP4-27 1
20 Italy '12 McLaren MP4-27 1
21 US '12 McLaren MP4-27 2
22 Hungary 2013 Mercedes W04 1
23 Malaysia 2014 Mercedes W05 1
24 Bahrain '14 Mercedes W05 2
25 China '14 Mercedes W05 1
26 Spain '14 Mercedes W05 1
27 Great Britain '14 Mercedes W05 6
28 Italy '14 Mercedes W05 1
29 Singapore '14 Mercedes W05 1
30 Japan '14 Mercedes W05 2
31 Russia '14 Mercedes W05 1
32 US '14 Mercedes W05 2
33 Abu Dhabi '14 Mercedes W05 2
34 Australia 2015 Mercedes W06 1
35 China '15 Mercedes W06 1
36 Bahrain '15 Mercedes W06 1
37 Canada '15 Mercedes W06 1
38 Great Britain '15 Mercedes W06 1
39 Belgium '15 Mercedes W06 1
40 Italy '15 Mercedes W06 1
41 Japan '15 Mercedes W06 2
42 Russia '15 Mercedes W06 2
43 US '15 Mercedes W06 2
44 Monaco '2016 Mercedes W07 3
45 Canada '16 Mercedes W07 1
46 Austria '16 Mercedes W07 1
47 Great Britain '16 Mercedes W07 1
48 Hungary '16 Mercedes W07 2
49 Germany '16 Mercedes W07 2
50 US '16 Mercedes W07 1
Montreal, CANADA: McLaren Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton (R) of Britain celebrates winning the Formula One Grand Prix of Canada 10 June 2007 in Montreal, C
Image: Hamilton won his first Grand Prix in Canada in 2007

Where has Lewis won most often?

Race wins Grand Prix
5 Hungary, Canada, USA
4 China, Great Britain
3 Italy, Japan, Germany
2 Abu Dhabi, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Monaco, Russia, Singapore
1 Malaysia, Spain, Turkey, Austria
Lewis Hamilton now leads the championship after beating his rival in Hungary
Image: Hamilton's win at Hungary this year was his fifth in Budapest

Where does he win from?

Grid position Wins
Pole 29
2 15
3 3
4 2
6 1
NORTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - JULY 06: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP his held aloft by his team mates as he holds the old British Grand Prix Tr
Image: Hamilton celebrates winning the 2014 British Grand Prix from sixth on the grid

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