It’s no secret that Formula 1’s popularity has grown several folds in recent years. The viewership and audience attendance at a Grand Prix is at record-breaking numbers and one great example is the 2021 Austin GP which recorded an attendance of 400,000 fans across the three days of action.

Max Verstappen took the top step of the podium, followed by Lewis Hamilton in second and Sergio Perez in third. However, the spotlight was on the NBA superstar, Shaquille O’Neal who presented the silverware to the podium finishers after the completion of the Grand Prix.

In a recent interview with the football legend, Thierry Henry, O’Neal talked about NBA’s 75th anniversary and fellow athletes. The former Los Angeles Lakers center revealed that his favorite driver on the F1 grid is Lewis Hamilton.

Shaquille emphasized on how he draws inspiration from currently active athletes that are at the peak of their respective sports. Furthermore, he mentioned the mental state that an athlete is in when performing at the highest level and going for the win.

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Winning the crown of Formula 1 seven times makes Lewis Hamilton the perfect example of a championship mindset.

Lewis Hamilton: The Formula 1 Benchmark

It is no surprise that Shaq mentioned Hamilton while talking about the concentration it requires on part of a player to deliver peak performance. Formula 1 consists of the fastest cars raced by the top 20 drivers of the world arguably.

The pinnacle of motorsport is no joke as the drivers realize they are putting their lives on the line when they step into the car each time. The cars go up to 350km/hr down the straights and an average of 150 km/hr through a corner. Carrying that much speed into a corner translates into high G-forces on a driver’s body. So, naturally, they have to prepare themselves for it with rigorous training.

Each driver on the grid enters the sport with an aim to raise the world title one day. Unfortunately, many do not even get a chance to even win a single Grand Prix. Considering this, the achievements of Lewis Hamilton are extraordinary.

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Notably, the Brit holds the records such as most race wins(103), most pole positions(103), most points scored (4242.5), most races finished in points, most world championships (7 shared with Michael Schumacher), and many more.

The accomplishments of the British driver are remarkable and make him one of the most successful drivers in the history of the sport. He raises the bar at every Grand Prix he enters and takes the benchmark of success in Formula 1 higher each weekend.