Hamilton breaks Schumi’s record
Briton registers 92nd win to become F1’ s most successful driver of all time
Six- times world champion Lewis Hamilton became the most successful Formula One driver of all time in terms of race wins on Sunday with a dominant 92nd career victory at the Portuguese Grand Prix.
The Mercedes driver, who took the chequered flag a huge 25.592 seconds ahead of secondplaced teammate Valtteri Bottas, had equalled Ferrari great Michael Schumacher’s record 91 wins at the previous race at the Nuerburgring.
Victory, along with a bonus point for fastest lap, stretched the Briton’s championship lead over Bottas to 77 points with five races remaining.
“You are rewriting the history books,” Mercedes told Hamilton over the team radio, with team boss Toto Wolff adding: “Lewis, 92. 92.” “I owe it all to these guys here and back at the factory,” said Hamilton.
“It’s just been such a privilege working with them ,” added the Brit on, who was joined on the podium by race engineer Peter ‘ Bono’ Bonnington.
Occasional rain
“Today was tough but it was all about temperatures.” Dutch youngster Max Verstappen finished third for Red Bull at the Algarve circuit near Portimao that was hosting the country’s first Grand Prix in 24 years.
Hamilton, whose father was at the circuit to see his triumph, said. “I could never have dreamed of being where I am today,” he said after his eighth win of the season and 71st since he joined Mercedes.
“I didn’t have a magic ball when I chose to come to this team and partner with great people, but here I am and what I can tell you is I’m trying to make the most of it every single day. “It’s going to take some time to sink in. Iwas still pushing flat out coming across the line.” Bottas said he just had no pace. “I was pushing hard but couldn’t go faster,” complained the Finn.
Lance Stroll, who missed the last race and then tested positive for Covid- 19, was the only retirement.