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Valtteri Bottas (left) visibly nodded after the race. © APA / afp / KENAN ASYALI
While Lewis Hamilton made his seventh world title perfect on Sunday, his teammate Valtteri Bottas had a weekend to forget. The maturity certificate of the Istanbul Grand Prix.
November 16, 2020
LEWIS HAMILTON: Formula 1 was threatened this weekend with a boring, one-sided, because Lewis Hamilton drove to the seventh title, which was too superior. And the Englishman was threatened by the usual voices of those who want to downplay his success: with this Mercedes, they say, you can only become world champion. But the racing god had some sympathy for Hamilton, he gave him this insane race that didn’t really run for the Englishman. And that he still won against all odds. On the way to the seventh title, the champion proved once again that he is the exceptional driver of his generation, who wants to win every race. And he will probably still have the opportunity to do so – extending the contract seems only a matter of time, everyone involved indicated that.
VALTTERI BOTTAS: Having Lewis Hamilton as a teammate is probably the biggest challenge possible for any Formula 1 driver. There are drivers who grow up with such a challenge, Nico Rosberg did it, stayed true to Hamilton, and even took the title from him in 2016. In Valtteri Bottas, it is to be feared that this challenge will break his career. Year after year begins with hope, year after year clearly fails. The race in Istanbul was now the ultimate humiliation: in conditions that focused on the driver’s skill, his teammate drove to the world title with a victory. Bottas himself turned at least six times on a slippery track. And it was lapped by the same partner. If Hamilton continues at Mercedes, then Bottas’ big wins are hardly conceivable in the future.
Vettel can look forward to its future car
SEBASTIÁN VETTEL: In the end, this cold and wet Sunday in Istanbul will perhaps be remembered as the day that made the 2020 year of Formula 1 bearable for Vettel. He did not get on the podium from eleventh place. He did it on a track that required sensitivity, courage and strong nerves, all the things that make a great driver. And the German was able to prove that he is still the Sebastian Vettel, who once won four world titles in a row, that he still cannot be ruled out. As a hottie, Vettel also edged out team rival Charles Leclerc in the final corners, whom he followed so frequently recently. And Vettel solidified the good impression with his sincere congratulations on Hamilton’s historic performance: “He is without a doubt the greatest of our era.” By the way, a look at his future racing team was very rewarding for Vettel.
Sebastian Vettel will drive alongside Racing Point driver Lance Stroll (pictured) next year. © APA / afp / CLIVE MASON
RACE POINT: Because Racing Point, Aston Martin next year, shone on this difficult weekend. The car, largely a copy of last year’s Mercedes, was better on the slippery track than almost everyone else, also better than the Mercedes. The result: Pole position for Lance Stroll on Saturday and second place for Sergio Pérez on Sunday. The Racing-Point-Bolide is an off-roader and it got even better thanks to updates during the year that had nothing to do with the Mercedes. Vettel can expect a powerful car for next season. And since Sunday the team has been waiting a little longer for Vettel.
DECIDING ON THE WEEKEND: “I think today it has become even more expensive.” (Mercedes Motorsport Director Toto Wolff on contract negotiations with now seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton)
Author: dl / sid
