Formula One MOTORSPORT

Hamilton wins his seventh World title after Turkish masterclass

Lewis Hamilton has won his record-equalling seventh World Championship after mastering the difficult conditions to win the Turkish Grand Prix.

The newly crowned Champion cruised to victory at Istanbul Park, finishing over 30 seconds ahead of second placed Sergio Perez, the Racing Point driver getting his first podium of the season.

Sebastian Vettel finished third for his first podium since the 2019 Mexican Grand Prix, while Hamilton’s Championship rival and teammate Valtteri Bottas ended the race in 14th and one lap down on the Briton.

This title win brings Hamilton level with the seven championships of Michael Schumacher, with the last of those titles coming in 2004.

Having qualified in sixth, Hamilton had to make do with struggling in the opening laps on the cold, greasy track surface as the two Racing Points stormed away from the rest of the pack.

Stuck behind Vettel, the Mercedes driver was overtaken by the quickest driver at the time, Alex Albon, who disposed of the Ferrari driver with relative ease, before spinning behind Perez once he began to battle for second.

This was a spitting image of teammate Max Verstappen, who spun on the exit of turn 11 after running wide in a wild attempt to pass the Mexican. With most of the pack, including race leader Lance Stroll, pitting for fresh intermediates, Perez and Hamilton stayed out and at this point, the Briton was in the groove, dispatching of the Racing Point on lap 37 and never looked back.

Hamilton pulled away, making it look like a routine win as he crossed the line to become Champion once again. But the battle for second was really hotting up and Charles Leclerc, Vettel and Carlos Sainz were right on the back of Perez, whose heavily worn intermediates had finally given in.

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Leclerc made a lunge at turn 12, but locked up and went wide, allowing Vettel through to take his first podium in 17 races, while his teammate dropped to fourth, just about fending off the McLaren of Sainz who finished fifth.

But the day belonged to Hamilton, who showed excellent race craft and tactical awareness to become the most successful Formula One driver of all time.

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