“I didn’t want people to see my tears”

At the Istanbul GP, Lewis Hamilton once again proves his skills and is Formula 1 world champion for the seventh time. Even before leaving his cabin, he is overwhelmed by his emotions.

In the slippery and rainy chaos of Istanbul, Lewis Hamilton achieved his 10th win of the season on Sunday and raced towards the next milestone of his extraordinary career in the most difficult conditions. With his seventh world title, the Briton equaled Michael Schumacher’s most important record. “I remember when Michael won all these titles,” enthuses Hamilton after the race. «I dreamed about it when I was young. That now exceeds my dreams. “

Even before the hardened Hamilton can leave, he is overwhelmed by his feelings. “When I crossed the line, they beat me and I started crying. I just didn’t understand it, ”admits the Briton, who is already beginning to think about the last minutes of the race. I rarely lose control. In the last laps, however, I had to tell myself that I would hold out. All these emotions arose and I tried to stop them. However, this only works up to the finish line.

Well-wisher Vettel: “That is admirable”

Hiding his watery eyes behind the mirrored visor, Hamilton remained in his cockpit for a few minutes after the race ended. “I’m very strong, but I couldn’t do it without people like my father. I thought of him or my mother. I didn’t want people to see my tears, but it was too much, ”says the 35-year-old. Sebastian Vettel, after the early supporters of Hamilton, sums it up: “His successes will endure for a long time. That is admirable “.

In sporting terms, Hamilton has now reached the top and is statistically on par with the best racing driver in history to date. The Briton holds the records for the most pole positions (97) and the most Grand Prix victories (94). He won his first world title in a McLaren in 2008, in 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 and now in 2020, six more in a row in a Mercedes. There is no question that if he continues his career as expected, he can still surpass Schumacher. “We want him in the car and he wants the Mercedes,” emphasizes Mercedes motorsport director Toto Wolff.

But Hamilton has long been interested in things other than a fast car. He made it clear even after his seventh World Championship title: “The driver’s title doesn’t necessarily have an impact on people’s lives. Trying to improve the conditions of people around the world, to create equal human rights, is the most important thing for me.