Did you Know? Lewis Hamilton could have been an 8-Time champion – If not for this FIA rule change

Lewis Hamilton could have been an eight-time Formula 1 world champion if the FIA hadn't changed one rule in 2009. F1 rules are always complicated and they change time by time. But one particular rule implemented in 2009 would have helped Lewis Hamilton secure his 8th F1 title.

Lewis Hamilton first won his Formula 1 title in 2008 but couldn't continue his success due to the technical changes made in 2009. His car struggled and he couldn’t win any more titles with McLaren. The FIA announced that the driver who wins more races will be crowned rather than the driver with more points. Many F1 drivers like Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton voiced their displeasure regarding the new rule change, as it completely hides out the most consistent driver of the season.

Hamilton said, “I cannot imagine those changes to help F1, especially regarding the new system to find the champion. I cannot see how it makes sense to eventually have a world champion who has fewer points than the driver coming in second, even if I also think it is a good move to try to strengthen the winner’s position.”

FIA rule could have crowned Lewis Hamilton in 2016

After facing severe backlash among teams and drivers, the FIA has reverted the new bizarre rule from the 2009 championship and Jenson Button won the title by his consistency. It was also the last season that winners got 10 points instead of 25 and only the top 8 teams received points. But the rule Lewis Hamilton rejected and fought against would have helped him become an eight-time world champion by now, even without the 2021 Abu Dhabi drama with Max Verstappen and Michael Massi. 

In the 2016 season, Lewis Hamilton and his Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg battled for the world championship. It was total dominance by the Mercedes F1 team as Lewis Hamilton won 10 races and Nico won 9. If the rule had stayed, Lewis Hamilton would have been crowned the 2016 World Champion and could have surpassed Michael Schumacher's F1 title record. 

Also read: 'I'm here for my own story'—Kimi Antonelli dismisses carrying Hamilton's legacy.