Lewis Hamilton becomes seven-time World Champion in Turkish Grand Prix masterclass
Despite horrid conditions throughout the race, Lewis Hamilton has flexed on the rest of the grid in a history performance with drama to the end.
Lewis Hamilton is now a seven-time World Champion after a freakish performance to win the Turkish Grand Prix.
In slippery conditions at the resurfaced Istanbul Park, Hamilton had struggled all weekend but once again found his way to the front and went claimed a massive victory ahead of Racing Point's Sergio Perez and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc in third.
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In a topsy-turvy race with drivers spinning out through all 58 laps, Hamilton held it together best.
But it was a horror day for his teammate Valtteri Bottas who spun out on the first lap and never looked to challenge the top 10.
Before the weekend, Bottas needed to be within eight points of Hamilton by the end of the race but Hamilton getting inside of Renault's Daniel Ricciardo, who tapped his teammate Esteban Ocon, who spun out with Bottas also being spun out.
He was never close.He was so far away, Hamilton lapped Bottas with 12 laps remaining, and the Brit let him know.
"Valtteri has blue flags, someone might want to tell him to get out of the way," Sky Sports' Karun Chandhok reported Hamilton said over the team radio.
But it didn't matter in the end with Hamilton winning by 31 seconds in a race he was never expected to challenge in after admitting it was "terrifying".
Hamilton was crying over team radio after wrapping up the title.
"Thank you so much guys," he said. "For all the kids out there who dream the impossible, you can do it too man, I believe in you man. Thank you so much for your support."
He was still struggling to hold back his emotions at the grid interview.
"I'm definitely a bit lost for words," Hamilton said. "I have to start by saying a huge thank you to all our guys here, and back at both our factories. I wouldn't be able to be here if I didn't join this team and the journey we've been on has been monumental. I'm so proud."
Its the shriek! The moment he stayed in the car, wiping down a tear. It's the moment of Vettel going down on a knee to congratulate him.
— Mujuni Raymond (@qataharraymond) November 15, 2020
Hamilton, you can keep your arguments please, is the greatest F1 driver of all time.
What a race, what a man, what a team!!!
Hamilton lapping Bottas, that's GOAT status, ai #TurkishGp
— Kwizera (@TherealKwizera) November 15, 2020
Hamilton puts a lap on Bottas. Devastating performance from the Briton here.
— Philip Duncan (@PhilDuncanF1) November 15, 2020
Phenomenal race from Hamilton, summed up by this right here. https://t.co/DklObF4clt
— Ravi Hiranand (@ravi_hiranand) November 15, 2020
Lewis Hamilton is the greatest driver in F1 history.
— Ian Betteridge 🇪🇺 (@ianbetteridge) November 15, 2020
Sir Lewis Hamilton. It's time. #F1 @F1 #TurkishGP
— Kia Abdullah (@KiaAbdullah) November 15, 2020
Absolutely incredible! Lewis Hamilton makes history.
— Darshan Chandaria (@dchandaria) November 15, 2020
He equals Michael Schumacher's record of seven Formula One world titles with victory at the Turkish Grand Prix. What a legend! #Hamilton #TurkishGP #f1istanbul pic.twitter.com/H0aya8cqMy
Hamilton said he "tried not to be in tears in front of the cameras" but doubled down on his comments again with Aussie F1 great Mark Webber.
"I know often say it's beyond my wildest dreams... but I think my whole life I have secretly dreamt as high as this. It felt so far-fetched," he said.
"I remember watching Michael winning the championships, and just to get one, or two, or three - it's so hard to get. Seven is just unimaginable.
"What a day. There's a lot to take in."
And in a sign that will terrify the rest of the grid, he added: "I feel like I'm only getting started. I feel physically in great shape. This year has been a challenge that I didn't know how to get through, but with the help of people around me I managed to just keep my head above water and stay focused.
"I'm really hopeful for a better year next year and I would love to stay. I feel like we've got a lot of work to do here, we've only just started our work to make ourselves accountable. I want to help Formula 1, I want to help Mercedes in that journey."
His teammate Bottas was less happy during the race.
"Four laps left", his engineer said.
"I wish it was less," Bottas replied.
Bottas wasn't the only driver to have a horror moment with the final podium a massive shake up from the early stages of the race.
Polesitter Lance Stroll got out to a huge lead but a telling moment came when the Canadian pitted from the lead.
Stroll came back in fourth but was complaining of graining on his new intermediate tyres.
A mistake saw Vettel overtake and Stroll tumbled down the order to finish ninth.
But his teammate Perez was counting his lucky stars.
On the final lap, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was in second but a lock up saw Perez and Vettel overtake to steal his position on the podium.
TURKISH GRAND PRIX RESULTS
1st: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2nd: Sergio Perez (Racing Point)
3rd: Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
4th: Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
5th: Carlos Sainz (McLaren)
6th: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
7th: Alex Albon (Red Bull)
8th: Lando Norris (McLaren)
9th: Lance Stroll (Racing Point)
10th: Daniel Ricciardo (Renault)
Originally published as Lewis Hamilton becomes seven-time World Champion in Turkish Grand Prix masterclass
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