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British driver Lewis Hamilton made Formula One history on Sunday (Monday NZT), winning the Portuguese Grand Prix with a 92nd career victory to overtake the great German Michael Schumacher.
Hamilton finished nearly 25.6 seconds ahead of his Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas and 34.5 ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen for his eighth win of another dominant season.
He also took an extra point on the fastest lap to extend his huge championship lead to 77 points over Bottas with just five races remaining.
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Hamilton won his first F1 race in 2007 and his first title the following year. But his career really took off when he replaced retired Schumacher at Mercedes in 2013. Hamilton added five more F1 titles and the runaway championship leader is now set to match Schumacher’s record of seven.
Joe Portlock / Getty Images
An excited Lewis Hamilton celebrates after breaking German great Michael Schumacher’s all-time record for victories.
“I could only ever have dreamed of being where I am today,” said an excited Hamilton. “It will take me some time to fully absorb it. I can’t find the words right now.”
Shortly after crossing the line and celebrating with the team’s mechanics and engineers, Hamilton paused to share a long hug with his father, Anthony Hamilton, who then filmed the scene on his iPad as Hamilton celebrated on the podium as the crowd sounded him. cheered loudly.
Then it was time for the traditional champagne spray, though Verstappen and Bottas had the final say this time, as Verstappen poured the bottle over Hamilton’s head and Bottas graciously sprayed his face with his.
Hamilton took a career-high pole position, starting ahead of Bottas and Verstappen on a track used for the first time in F1.
McLaren’s Carlos Sainz Jr briefly held the race lead and then Bottas led until Hamilton passed him on lap 20.
After that, Hamilton slid to the finish line and entered the record books.
The only thing that bothered him was a cramp in his right calf muscle, but that did little to dissuade him.
Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton achieved victory in the Portuguese Grand Prix and is on track to claim a record seventh title.
Many fans in masks sat in the stands around the 4.6 kilometer undulating circuit in Portimao. The track has frequent elevation changes and has caused grip problems for riders, including Charles Leclerc. But the Ferrari driver did well to finish fourth in an uncompetitive car.
AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly made a big late overtake over Racing Point’s Sergio Perez to take fifth place.
Hamilton made a shaky start as Bottas was passed by Verstappen only to regain position and then overtake a surprisingly cautious Hamilton as it started to rain.
“I had a big oversteer,” Hamilton said. “I backed down massively.”
But Sainz Jr went from seventh to first on the fastest soft tires, until Bottas passed it on lap 6, Hamilton did it on lap 7 and Verstappen on the next.
Joe Portlock / Getty Images
Members of the Mercedes team celebrate on the pit wall as Lewis Hamilton crosses the finish line for his record 92nd victory.
Perez had a lucky escape early on when he made contact with Verstappen and flew sideways off the track, without being hit by another car. Kimi Raikkonen went from 16th to 6th with some typically daring moves, but the 41-year-old Finn began to back away as Bottas later led until Hamilton overtook him.
Racing Point’s Lance Stroll made a reckless move to the left of Lando Norris and went off the track after cutting the McLaren on lap 19. Stroll received a 5 second time penalty.
Hamilton’s speed advantage was such that he was soon well away from Bottas, whose right rear tire was grainy. He may have bet on Hamilton losing grip on the tires, but the difference was 10 seconds when Hamilton pitted for new tires on lap 41.
Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images
Race winner Lewis Hamilton is showered in champagne by Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, who finished third.
Bottas went into the next lap and when he got out he was stuck in traffic and struggling to keep up.
The day belonged to Hamilton, and it seems inevitable that Title No. 7 will follow suit.
After which, the only thing left will be 100 victories on his way to setting another title record.
His first victory came in Canada, 13 years ago, when he was driving for McLaren, and the team tweeted Hamilton with a bottle of champagne and the words “You never forget the first.”
