Lewis Hamilton Targets Win in 100th F1 Start at German Grand Prix

He has 18 Formula One wins and while acknowledging the significance of making it to 100 races, he is keen to make it 19 in Germany. "One hundred grands prix is very, very satisfying. It feels like a huge milestone," he said. "Just to get to one grand prix was a dream so to get to 100, I can't really believe it. In my career I've never really had a '100' milestone. Obviously I've had thousands of races but it's a great feeling.

"Jenson [Button] won his 200th grand prix in Hungary last year and I'd love to be able to do the same with my 100th."

The driver had declined to comment on the reports of his late night partying in the wake of the British Grand Prix and has still not signed a new contract with McLaren but was keen to stress that he was determined to make the most of the rest of his career.

"I feel like I've still got lots of racing in me," he said. "Hopefully I will make 200. When I was a kid, it was always 'I can't wait until I'm 18 so I can go out and enjoy myself. I can't wait until I'm 21'. Now I'm 27 I don't want to wish anything away. I want to make sure I enjoy every day and every experience."

He is fourth in the drivers' championship, behind Alonso, Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel, with only a single win in Canada, but the hugely satisfying drive in Montreal is one that is likely to stay with him. "I don't remember my 50th or my 10th [races]," he said. "I just remember my first and last and of course, I remember my good races."

Rubens Barrichello remains the driver with the most races started on 322, followed by Michael Schumacher on 295.

This article was written by Giles Richards at Hockenheim, for guardian.co.uk on Friday 20th July 2012 22.27 Europe/London

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image: © McLaren

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