Lewis Hamilton has given his reaction after learning that he is on course to break another one of Michael Schumacher's F1 records at this weekend's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Schumacher currently holds the record for the most races with one constructor, with the German having taken part in 179 Grands Prix as a Ferrari driver.
Hamilton is on equal terms with this as things stand, but will surprass the number when he competes in his 180th race for Mercedes in Jeddah.
Hamilton reflects on "amazing" new record
Hamilton admits that he was not initially aware that he would be breaking this record, but has praised Mercedes for their "loyalty" to him since he joined the team back in 2013.
"I didn't know that," Hamilton told media, including RacingNews365.com, when asked for his reaction to the new statistic.
"That's pretty amazing. I'm grateful for Mercedes' loyalty to me over the years."
Hamilton's relationship with the Silver Arrows extends further, too, given that the company previously supplied McLaren's engines during the Briton's many years with the Woking-based outfit.
"I've been with Mercedes since I was 13, so it's a long stretch together," Hamilton added.
"I'm very much embedded in the family, and grateful to be a part of their history and continuing to work on adding to that in the future."
Which F1 drivers have completed the most races for one constructor?
With Hamilton contracted to remain with Mercedes until the end of 2023, that record of 180 Grands Prix with them looks set to eventually surpass the 200 mark, which no other driver has ever achieved.
Several well-known names in the sport have become centurions with one constructor, though, including the likes of Kimi Raikkonen, Jenson Button and Mika Hakkinen.
Max Verstappen currently sits just outside of the top 10, with the Dutchman having completed 119 races for Red Bull as things stand. But with his recent contract extension keeping him at the team until the end of 2028, this number will get significantly higher in the years to come.
Most Grands Prix with the same constructor
| Driver | Number of race starts | Constructor |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Schumacher | 179 | Ferrari |
| Lewis Hamilton | 179 | Mercedes |
| Kimi Raikkonen | 151 | Ferrari |
| David Coulthard | 150 | McLaren |
| Felipe Massa | 139 | Ferrari |
| Nico Rosberg | 136 | Mercedes |
| Jenson Button | 136 | McLaren |
| Jacques Laffite | 132 | Ligier |
| Mika Hakkinen | 131 | McLaren |
| Mark Webber | 129 | Red Bull |
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