I’m only just starting, seventime world champion says
MOTORSPORT
ISTANBUL: Britain’s Lewis Hamilton shed tears of joy as he won a recordequalling seventh Formula One world championship in Turkey yesterday and became the most successful driver in the sport’s history.
The Mercedes ace put on a masterclass in wet and slippery conditions to take a recordstretching 94th career win at the Istanbul Park circuit and secure the title with three races to spare.
Ferrari great Michael Schumacher is the only other driver with seven titles to his name.
So crushing was the win that Hamilton lapped sole rival and teammate Valtteri Bottas with 12 laps to go. The Finn, who had to finish at least sixth, spun repeatedly and ended up 14th.
Hamilton already had more race wins, pole positions and podium finishes than anyone in the history of the sport but, despite starting a seasonlow sixth, the 35yearold was determined to add to the tally.
‘‘That’s for all the kids out there who dream the impossible. You can do it too, man. I believe in you guys,’’ he whooped over the radio after taking the chequered flag.
The Briton finished 31.6 seconds clear of Racing Point’s secondplaced Mexican Sergio Perez, after passing him with 22 laps to go.
‘‘Seven is just unimaginable, but when you work with such a great group of people and you really trust each other, there is just no end to what we can do together,’’ said Hamilton, who has yet to sign a new deal for 2021 but is set to stay.
‘‘I feel like I’m only just getting started.’’
Hamilton’s 10th victory of 2020, and fourth in a row, took his points tally to an insurmountable 307 with Bottas on 197.
Hamilton was congratulated after parking up by Perez, who still has no seat for 2021, and Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, who completed the podium in a race full of spins and changes of lead.
‘‘I told him that it was very special for us because we can witness history being made today,’’ said Vettel, on the podium for the first time this year.
‘‘There is no doubt Lewis is the greatest in terms of what he has achieved.’’
Bottas also went across to shake the hand of a man who won his first title with McLaren in 2008 and then Mercedes in 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2019. — Reuters