In a career that has spanned over 15 years and includes no fewer than 103 wins, Lewis Hamilton has experienced only four win-less streaks of ten or more races. We take a look at Hamilton’s longest periods without winning in F1.
10 races – 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix – 2009 German Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton first had a streak of ten win-less races just as he was crowned World Champion for the first time. Having won the previous race in China, Hamilton headed to the 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix needing to finish fifth to secure the title. He famously did so, passing Timo Glock at the final corner on the final lap of the Interlagos race.
Hamilton’s 2009 campaign with McLaren was more difficult than his first two seasons in 2007 and 2008. In an uncompetitive car, Hamilton failed to win any of the first eight races of the season. He took an unlikely victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix ending what remains a career-longest run of win-less events.
10 races – 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix – 2013 German Grand Prix
Hamilton’s next ten-race losing streak came almost four years later. He took his final victory with the McLaren team at the 2012 United States Grand Prix, which was the penultimate round of the season. Moving to Mercedes for the 2013 season, Hamilton won on his ninth outing with the team at the Hungarian Grand Prix; the tenth race of the year.
10 races – 2013 Belgian Grand Prix – 2014 Australian Grand Prix
Between 2012 and 2014, Hamilton won only one race in a 21-race period. His next 10-race win-less streak followed immediately after his Hungarian Grand Prix win. Red Bull dominated the second half of the 2013 season, with Sebastian Vettel taking nine consecutive wins at the wheel of the RB9.
Mercedes would be the dominant force at the dawn of Formula 1’s new V6 hybrid era. Hamilton took pole for the Australian Grand Prix but retired just a few laps into the season-opener. He’d end his ten-race win-less streak at the next race, the 2014 Malaysian Grand Prix.
10 races – 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – 2022 Canadian Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton will set a new record for his longest win-less period in Formula 1 if he fails to win the 2022 British Grand Prix. Hamilton has not won since the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, where he took victory ahead of Max Verstappen.
There is reason to be optimistic about Hamilton’s chances at Silverstone. The Mercedes driver has won all but one of the last eight British Grands Prix and the smoother surface of the Silverstone track is expected to suit Mercedes’ difficult to handle W13 better. Furthermore, two of Hamilton’s previous ten-race losing streaks were ended at Round 10 of the season. The British Grand Prix is the tenth round in 2022.
Lewis Hamilton’s longest win-less streaks in F1
Below is a list of every occasion on which Lewis Hamilton has failed to win at six or more consecutive Grands Prix.
- 10 races – 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix – 2009 German Grand Prix
- 10 races – 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix – 2013 German Grand Prix
- 10 races – 2013 Belgian Grand Prix – 2014 Australian Grand Prix
- 10 races – 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – 2022 Canadian Grand Prix
- 9 races – 2009 Japanese Grand Prix – 2010 Monaco Grand Prix
- 8 races – 2010 Italian Grand Prix – 2011 Malaysian Grand Prix
- 8 races – 2015 Mexican Grand Prix – 2016 Spanish Grand Prix
- 7 races – 2011 Hungarian Grand Prix – 2011 Indian Grand Prix
- 7 races – 2011 Brazil Grand Prix – 2012 Monaco Grand Prix
- 6 races – 2008 Hungarian Grand Prix – 2008 Japanese Grand Prix
- 6 races – 2011 Turkish Grand Prix – 2011 British Grand Prix
- 6 races – 2017 Mexican Grand Prix – 2018 Chinese Grand Prix