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It was just a formality that Lewis Hamilton became world champion. But the bad weather conditions made the race in Turkey exciting again. The beginning was particularly tough.
Lewis Hamilton has won the Formula 1 World Championship for the seventh time. In Turkey, the Briton finished first ahead of Sergio Pérez (Racing Point) and Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari), followed by Charles Leclerc (also Ferrari). For Sebastian Vettel it is the first podium in a season that has so far been ruined.
Hamilton’s teammate Valtteri Bottas was the only driver who could have stopped Hamilton, but he was left out in Istanbul.
For Lewis Hamilton it is the seventh world title. This set the record for Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher, who also celebrated seven successes. “I am speechless,” said an excited Hamilton after the race, before adding: “I want to send a big thank you to my team, including my family.”
Vettel takes a big leap
The start was a bit chaotic because the track was still wet. Not as much as the day before in qualifying, but enough to go around the positions. Because Max Verstappen at Red Bull in second place barely moved, and Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) and Esteban Ocon (Renault) rounded at the first corner.
The departure in Turkey was turbulent due to conditions. (Source: Motorsport Images / imago images)
A great beneficiary of the start was Sebastian Vettel in the Ferrari, who jumped from eleventh position to third. Surprise leaderboard winner Lance Stroll stayed in the lead and continued to lead.
Tire failure
Before the race, Valtteri Bottas was the Briton’s sole title contender, 85 points behind Lewis Hamilton, but the spin eliminated any chance of scoring a few points. The Finn is mostly ranked 13-15 and played no role in the battle for the rankings.
The race remained unpredictable due to the conditions. Some teams were able to score hits, especially with tire choice, while others played far. So it happened that Max Verstappen, who had long been fighting for a place on the podium, finished the race in sixth place. Even Lance Stroll, who was in the lead for a long time, found himself far from the leading group after a pit stop and no longer played a role in the battle for victory.
Unsurprisingly, Lewis Hamilton and the Mercedes team were not wrong with race tactics. Little by little, the Briton made his way and secured the lead on lap 38 of 58, which he has not given up since. The pursuers had no chance against the Silver Arrow pilot.
Leclerc’s mistake shortly before the end
Ferrari could also be happy, because the driver duo of Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel had a good afternoon. They both jumped forward. Leclerc from twelfth to four, Vettel from eleven to three. There could have been even more if the team hadn’t ruined a Sebastian Vettel pit stop on lap 34, for example.
Sebastian Vettel jumped from eleventh to third after starting. (Source: Nordphoto / imago images)
Shortly before the end there was a little surprise. Because in the last corner kicks Leclerc attacked Pérez, he wanted to overtake him. But a spin at the Monegas ensured he finished the race in fourth place instead of second and his teammate Vettel made possible the first podium of the season.
In the general classification, Lewis Hamilton is first ahead of Valtteri Bottas and Max Verstappen.
