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“For all children who dream of the impossible, they can do it,” were the 35-year-old Briton’s first words after his 94th Grand Prix victory. “I can’t find the words, thank you to everyone who worked on this on the team,” Hamilton said, fighting back tears. His thanks for an “amazing journey” also went to his family, with whom he had dreamed of such successes from a young age.
“I couldn’t have done better,” was the radio comment from Mercedes Motorsport director Toto Wolff. “A fantastic ride, which was really brilliant.” And indeed, Hamilton’s 10th Grand Prix victory in race 14 of the season was a masterpiece. After a less confident performance than usual in qualifying, he only started from sixth place. In difficult conditions and due to initial problems, the old and new world champions were not dissuaded and headed for another win with perfect strategy.
Hamilton wins his seventh world title
Lewis Hamilton has been a seven-time Formula 1 world champion since Sunday. The Mercedes driver won the Turkish Grand Prix in Istanbul and thus kept up with the previous record holder Michael Schumacher.
Turbulent start on wet track
As in qualifying on Saturday, the wet track was a determining factor at the start of the race. Antonio Giovinazzi said goodbye to the gravel bed with his Alfa Romeo on his way to the starting grid, George Russell smashed the front wing of his Williams as he drove into the pit lane. But both could participate in the race.
Racing Point driver Lance Stroll got off to a good start from his first pole position, while Max Verstappen at Red Bull couldn’t escape and fell from second to fifth behind Vettel, who was advancing. There were also problems at Mercedes: Valtteri Bottas spun and had to line up again at the end of the field, Hamilton drove to the emergency exit after a few corners. However, Stroll and his teammate Pérez were able to get away on the drying track.
Initial phase with numerous fights for positions
After eight laps, the first riders picked up the intermediate tires. Verstappen edged out Vettel and was third again. On lap 16, Hamilton also set out to attack Vettel. However, the world champion struggled and had to let Alexander Albon pass in exchange. A little later, the Red Bull driver also took fourth place from Vettel.
Verstappen maneuver goes wrong
On lap 19, Verstappen was too impatient to attempt to overtake Pérez in second place. The Dutchman climbed onto the slippery barrier of the track and turned. Although he was able to keep the car on the track, he damaged his tires and had to pit. Instead of second, he was suddenly only eighth. He also got into trouble because he had crossed the blocking line after the pit lane.
The world champion makes his way
As a result, the action on the track died down for a time. Albon, who was scolded so often at Red Bull, put pressure on Perez, but couldn’t break the Racing Point duo up front. The DRS system was approved for the first time by the race direction just in the middle of the race.
In the World Cup match, Hamilton had fewer problems than initially on the track. The world champion was stuck in fifth place, but Bottas was only 16th. But then Vettel completed a pit stop and Albon turned around – Hamilton was already third. On lap 37, after the Leader Stroll had just pitted, Hamilton and DRS also overtook Perez and led the Grand Prix for the first time.
The ride comes under pressure
After a very strong first half of the race, Stroll was felt again. However, not as much as the Canadian had imagined. In attacking fourth-placed Vettel, he had to go a long way and let Leclerc pass. A little later, Albon and Sainz also switched to Polish.
It was the other direction for Leclerc. The Monegasse, which started twelfth, not only surpassed its Ferrari partner, but a little later also Verstappen and was third for the first time. Bottas, however, experienced bitter minutes, the Finn had to be traded by Hamilton twelve laps before the end. At the last corner, Vettel passed Leclerc.
Hamilton makes premiere in Istanbul
A look at the history books shows how superior Hamilton is: never before has a driver won in Turkey who did not start from the front row. The Pole was almost always the winner of the race. Only Jenson Button (2009) and Hamilton (2010) had won the second place. The Briton achieved sixth place on the grid.
Sebastian Vettel could also wait for a premiere. The German took the podium for the first time this season in one of his last races with Ferrari.
