I love historical coincidences. How Austrian portrait painter Joseph Mathäus Aigner tried to commit suicide three times and was saved by the same monk on each occasion, for example.
So here's a little historical fact for you. Since the 1970s, a Democrat has only won the race to the White House on years when a Brit won the Formula 1 driver's championship. A Brit has ONLY won on a Presidential Election year in those 38 years since 1970.
So keep your eyes on this guy... you won't believe who he looks like...
More below the fold. VROOOOOOM!!!
The first Election Year Win goes to James Hunt in 1976. Back in the days when Marlboro took their sponsoring seriously...
Jimmy Carter became President.
In 1980, the Australian Alan Jones took the crown. And Reagan took the Presidency. Reagan's second term was ushered in when Austrian Niki Lauda became the champ.
Ayrton Senna may have been driving a British McLaren when he won in 1988, but the man's a Brazilian. George H. W. Bush wins the Presidency.
Bill Clinton's two election years were matched with wins for Nigel Mansell in 1992...
...and Damon Hill in 1996.
If you want to blame anyone in the F1 world for Bush 43, blame the German Michael Schumacher. He won on both years.
So in 2008, British eyes turned to a twenty-three year-old lad from Stevenage, just half an hour north of London. Lewis Hamilton was seen as being inexperienced, even though anyone that paid attention to the lower racing divisions of Formula Renault, Formula Three and GP2 knew he was a natural at the front of the pack.
Last weekend, Lewis Hamilton finished in a high enough position to guarantee him the 2008 Championship. A quick Brit once again looks likely to predict the Dems win in the election.
And remember I said you won't believe who he looks like?
Yes we can. Obama '08!