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Lewis Hamilton won a rugged Emilia Romagna Grand Prix on Sunday to secure a record seventh consecutive constructors’ championship for Mercedes, a feat he described as “something to say to my grandchildren.”
The six-time champion took advantage of the misfortune of his teammate and pole-winner Valtteri Bottas to achieve his 93rd career success and extend his lead in the race for the drivers’ title.
Bottas came in second with Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo in third.
A clearly excited Hamilton hugged Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff and lifted him off the ground.
“People watching at home may think we are used to this, but being part of a record like this is incredible. It’s overwhelming right now, ”he said.
“I look at my team and think of everyone at Brackley (Mercedes’ base in Great Britain). They are forgotten heroes.
“They are the ones who have continued to graft themselves, they have never given up. People watching think we are used to it, but always feel like first because of the spirit of this team.
“We have a great leader in our team and many, many thanks to Mercedes.
Seven times champions! That’s something to say to my grandchildren. “
Wolff said: “I’m not that interested in numbers, but this is something to be proud of – as long as we can stay energized and motivated, I think we can keep going forever. We await a new challenge. “
Any hopes Bottas had of denying Hamilton were dashed when debris from a Ferrari car lodged behind his front wheels, costing him valuable time.
‘Over my limits’
“I think the damage hit me a lot today,” he said.
“The start was good and that was one of the main things to get right today.
“Then at turn seven, there was debris and I didn’t have time to avoid it.”
He added: “I tried really hard to stop letting Max (Verstappen) pass and pushed my limits which led to some mistakes … Unfortunate.”
Hamilton and Bottas, along with Ricciardo, received special trophies for their podiums.
All included a tribute to Ayrton Senna, including a 0.14-carat diamond to mark the Tamburello location where the Brazilian lost his life during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.
Sergio Pérez was sixth for Racing Point, Carlos Sainz finished seventh ahead of his McLaren teammate Lando Norris and Kimi Raikkonen’s two Alfa Romeos, in his 325th Grand Prix race, and Antonio Giovinazzi.
On a near perfect autumn afternoon at Imola with temperatures of 18-25 degrees for the air and track, Bottas made an equally brilliant start from his 15th pole as Verstappen edged Hamilton for second.
On lap 9, after an excellent start, Pierre Gasly was called up to withdraw his Alpha Tauri from fifth.
“We have a terminal situation, we have to box and withdraw,” the team said, citing a refrigerant leak.
Hamilton then produced successive fastest laps to lead for 25 seconds before Mercedes told Bottas that his floor was damaged.
Bottas then slid wide at Rivazza and Verstappen seized his chance to take second place. With 16 laps to go, the Dutchman began his chase after Hamilton, who was leading by 14 seconds.
His position ended soon. On lap 51, his car failed, apparently due to an instant puncture to the right rear, when he braked and lost control, hitting a gravel trap and out of the race.
A full Safety Car period followed, during which Bottas and Hamilton pitted, before George Russell crashed, as he moved to warm up his tires behind the Safety Car.
“I don’t know what to say,” he told Williams.
All of this drama left Hamilton leading Bottas, as the safety car entered, for a six-lap race to the flag.
Formula One takes a break next weekend before returning for the Turkish Grand Prix on November 15, where Hamilton could finish with a record-setting seventh driver crown.
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