A face well-known in the Formula 1 scene, and well-known to the podium as well, Lewis Hamilton is Mercedes' current face of Formula 1 racing. It is well deserved. During the Turkish Grand Prix, he beat the odds to get 1st place, which was enough to give him the 7th championship title of his career.
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The Distinguished Career Of Lewis Hamilton
Hamilton has become one of the most successful racing drivers in the history of F1, holding the most wins, pole positions, podium finishes, career points, and points within a season. With this victory in Turkey, he ties Michael Schumacher for the most championship titles.
He won his first victory for McLaren back in 2008, and since then has been on a tear through the F1 world, winning 6 titles in the past seven years for Mercedes. His success translated to off the track as well, leading him to be named as one of Time Magazine's100 Most Influential People in 2020.
The Race Details: Turn By Turn
The conditions of the race were enough to staple anyone to their TV, and the premonition that this could be the race for Hamilton to tie the championship record added to the excitement.
After a great start, Hamilton slew off the track at turn 9, backing him to position six. As the race continued, Hamilton maintained his position in the top 10. This pace continued towards the half-mark of the race, where the track started to dry out. At that point, Hamilton had maneuvered his way into the top five.
During lap 36, at turn 12, Hamilton overtook first position, and held on tight to that lead through the end of the race. With only 12 laps to go, Hamilton is 18 seconds ahead of second place Sergio Perez, and laps teammate Bottas.
In a bold move, Hamilton denies new tires, intending to finish the race on his current intermediates. This turned out to be the right call, as Hamilton sailed to a first place finish, with over a half minute lead over second place.
What Is Next For The Seven-Time Champion?
After the success in Turkey, Hamilton and the rest of F1 moves on to Bahrain, to complete the triple-header in the Middle East. This circuit will also be the end of the 2020 season, which for Hamilton, is definitely one for the record-books.