Hamilton's magic 100th win is mind -blowing, says Mercedes boss
Lewis Hamilton hailed a 'magic moment' yesterday after becoming the first Formula One driver to win 100 races.
The Briton's Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said the achievement, sealed with a victory in Russia, was simply “mind-blowing”.
If the milestone took longer to reach than many had expected, with seven-times world champion Hamilton fending off questions about possible jinxes before the Sochi weekend, it was worth the wait.
Only four drivers have reached even a half century of wins since the championship started in 1950, a statistic skewed by the fact that early years featured as few as six rounds compared to the current 22 and a driver's longevity was limited.
Hamilton is way out in front, having roared past German Ferrari great Michael Schumacher's previous record of 91 last season. The sport's most successful driver of all time is now leading the championship again, this time by two points from Red Bull's Max Verstappen.
“It's a magical moment,” said the 36-year-old.“i have dreamed of still being here and having this opportunity to be able to win these races and get to drive with such phenomenal talents this late in my career.
“This is a special moment for everyone that's been a part of it. I've had the most incredible team... there's too many to name.”