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For the first time this season, a Mercedes driver did not start first, but that did not stop Lewis Hamilton (35) from winning the Turkish Grand Prix and becoming world champion for the seventh time.
– This was for all the children who dream of doing the impossible. You can do it, said Hamilton in the car as he crossed the finish line as world champion for the seventh time.
Hamilton first became world champion in 2008 and has since repeated the feat in 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 and now in 2020.
CONFETTY AND CHAMPAGNE: Sergio Perez, who finished 2nd in Turkey, drenches recent world champion Lewis Hamilton in champagne while raining down confetti.
– I’m a bit speechless. I have to thank everyone at Mercedes, those who are here and those who work in the factory. I couldn’t have done this without them. I’m very proud of them, says Hamilton clearly moved during an interview shown on Viasport.
The 35-year-old, who won his 10th Grand Prix of the season, had to take several breaks during the interview.
– This is what you dreamed of when you were little.
– Seven times world champion, he is completely ill. So incredibly deserved. It must be one of the greatest achievements in the history of the sport. Congratulations, Lewis. Enjoy the celebration with family and friends, writes his former teammate Nico Rosberg, who was proclaimed world champion as a Mercedes driver in 2016, on Twitter.
Hamilton was crying after he got out of the car, obviously very touched by the feat. He climbed into the Mercedes car and stretched his arms in the air, knowing he was close to Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher, again.
In October, he equaled Schumacher’s 91 Grand Prix victories with 1st place at the famous Nürburgring, before just weeks later winning the Portuguese Grand Prix and erasing the German record.
– You really deserve the world title today, declared Formula 1 on its official website.
WELCOMING COMPLETE: Lewis Hamilton on his way to the finish line with a jubilant Mercedes team in the background. Photograph: TOLGA BOZOGLU / X01348
Humiliate Bottas
It has been a brilliant season for the Mercedes drivers, Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas, but in Turkey, for the first time this season, Mercedes was relegated to more than first position on the starting line.
Racing Point driver Lance Stroll achieved his first pole position of his career, but Hamilton, who started at number six, had no trouble taking home the victory.
– We knew we were on our hind legs. We learned a lot from qualifying, says Hamilton.
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Not only that: he humiliated his Mercedes colleague Bottas, catching him with a lap. Bottas had major problems on the wet Turkish asphalt.
When told there were four laps left in the race, his response was:
– I wish there were less.
Bottas was the only driver who was able to avoid Hamilton’s World Cup title on Sunday, but he was never close.
BUCKET ELEVATOR: And bucket launcher. Lewis Hamilton threw the trophy into the air after the victory. Behind him is Sebastian Vettel and he claps. The Ferrari driver finished in third place. Photo: MURAD SEZER / X90138
Chaotic race
With demanding conditions, there were several turns and also some collisions. Bottas, Renault driver Daniel Ricciardio had turns, as did Red Bulls Max Verstappen and Alfa Romeo’s Kimi Räikkönen.
– This is game. This is a lottery, said Viasat commentator Henning Isdal after the first few spins.
Kevin Magnussen struggled with the tires, Nicholas Latifi and Romain Grosjean crashed and there were just a lot of who had trouble handling the conditions.
Hamilton was among those who dominated it, as was Racing Points Sergio Pérez, who was in second place 31.6 seconds behind Hamilton.
Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel also drove very fast with several brilliant laps. Vettel took third place ahead of Leclerc, who actually passed Perez and was on his way to second place, but blew it.
