Brendan Lines   November 16, 2020

Lewis Hamilton claimed the FIA Formula One Drivers’ Championship for the seventh time driving in a class of his own, the Brit took an unexpected win at the Turkish Grand Prix in tricky and wet conditions from Sergio Perez, second and Sebastian Vettel third.

Hamilton drove a memorable race, it was a master class of wet-weather driving, pushing the envelope of his Mercedes’ intermediate tyres down to bare slicks at the end of the race.

There was drama before the start as the sodden re-surfaced Istanbul Park track claimed Alfa Romeo’s Antonio Giovinazzi and Williams’s George Russell on their way to the grid.

Starting from P6 on the grid, Hamilton had one hand on the prize out qualifying his nearest championship rival, teammate Valtteri Bottas from P9, Bottas lost places at Turn 1 on the opening lap avoiding the squabbling Renaults of Esteban Ocon and Daniel Ricciardo – the day did not improve for Bottas as he slid off the track another six times, the championship well and truly slipping away.

Hamilton pushed on chasing the Racing Point 1-2 combo lead by first-time pole sitter Lance Stroll who controlled the early stages of the race from the front.

An opportunity went begging for for Red Bull to steal some valuable constructors points in the conditions. Usually strong in the wet, Max Verstappen drove with an air of frustration unable to overtake with just a single wet racing line, the Dutchman spun out twice, teammate Alex Albon challenged for the podium driving for his seat next season, but both Red Bull’s finished P6 and P7 respectively.    

Stroll’s command of the lead fell away when he pitted for new intermediate tyres, later succumbing to graining, as the track began to show the slightest dry line, the race became of battle of who would blink first to take the slick tyres – but the threat of more rain never eventuated, giving no pay off to change tyres.  

Hamilton held on miraculously extending the life of his tyres where others could not through the pit stop phases. Extending his lead to +30sec Hamilton could take a pitstop with no risk to his lead, Hamilton ignored team orders, opting to exercise his class and experience to stay on track not risking an incident in a slippery pitlane – similar to his 2007 crash in Shanghai.

Perez’s stellar drive from P2 nursing his Racing Point, held station all day never looking in doubt to become the only driver this season next to Hamilton who has scored points in every race started this season.

Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel also showed experience pays, the German seized a final corner opportunity to take third place from teammate Charles Leclerc, who jostled with McLaren’s Carlos Sainz on the last lap.

Hamilton’s extraordinary drive was the most appropriate climax to an extraordinary 2020 championship a win that will forever be remembered as a true champion’s drive, Hamilton is truly worthy to share the history books with Schumacher as one of Formula 1‘s all-time greats.