Lewis Hamilton: Dreamer, chaser, believer

Car No.44 stopped in entrance of the board marked for the winner at parc ferme and the driving force held his head. Lewis Hamilton lifted the helmet visor, wiped his moist eyes and climbed out of his black Mercedes to face on it, soaking within the feeling as seven-time world champion. He had simply equalled Michael Schumacher’s world report for many Formula 1 titles.

It had been extra about when than if in a season held amid the Covid-19 pandemic and dominated by the 35-year-old Briton. Hamilton solely wanted to complete forward of teammate Valtteri Bottas to seal the 2020 crown. He confirmed his sense of event, realising his dream in type, successful the moist, chaotic and but thrilling Turkish Grand Prix on Sunday with a peerless drive.

Starting at a season-lowest sixth, the Mercedes driver didn’t have an ideal begin and fell nearly a pit cease behind the race leaders initially. Just as everybody began sliding and locking up wheels, Hamilton, just like the German ace he quickly equalled, started demonstrating his mastery on wet and slippery circumstances, discovering the grip to gobble up positions.

Chasing Schumi

Hamilton was main the race by Lap 38 (out of 58), finally holding place from Racing Point’s Sergio Perez and Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel to clinch a record-extending 94th victory in scintillating vogue.

“What a day! It’s a lot to take in. I remember watching Michael win those world championships. Seven is just unimaginable. I’m lost for words. I know I often say it is beyond wildest dreams, but my whole life secretly I have dreamt as high as this,” stated Hamilton after clinching the 2020 F1 crown with three races to spare.

“Today coming here we knew we were on the back foot and did the best we could (in qualifying). I kept my head down and kept believing it would come back to me.”

One might argue it’s all too straightforward having the quickest automotive. So did Bottas, who completed a lowly 14th after spinning 5 occasions throughout the race. He was embarrassingly lapped by a dominant Hamilton in the identical equipment.

One by one Hamilton has chased down all important F1 information—all as soon as owned by the nice German driver he changed at Mercedes in 2013. The Briton holds the world information for many poles (97), wins (94) and podiums (163) and now has additionally equalled Schumacher for many championships, as soon as thought past inconceivable to achieve.

“That’s for all the kids out there: dream the impossible, speak it into existence,” stated Hamilton, as he fought again tears, after one in every of his most emotional, career-best wins. “Don’t listen to anyone who tells you “you can’t achieve something”. You’ve set to work for it, chase it, and by no means hand over.”

Long-time German rival Vettel, who was the primary to congratulate Hamilton, summed up the efficiency. “Today was not his race and he still won it,” stated the four-time world champion.

GOAT debate

Hamilton, whose first title got here in 2008 with McLaren, has blown open F1’s biggest of all time (GOAT) debate—earlier confined to the likes of Ayrton Senna and Schumacher. It exhibits the gap travelled by a boy who doesn’t come from luxurious or privilege however a modest background the place his father Anthony as soon as switched between 4 jobs to sponsor his son’s nascent profession.

Hamilton made all that price it on the monitor, exhibiting a pure present for velocity from a younger age. His racing intuition was seen by Ron Dennis when Hamilton famously advised the then McLaren boss, “I want to race for you one day.” The relaxation is historical past.

Numbers solely inform a part of the story that exhibits the rise of one of many sport’s greatest figures who can be a champion of causes, backing actions just like the Black Lives Matter (BLM). He has more and more used the F1 platform to make his voice heard on numerous topics like racial injustice, range, sustainability of the game and surroundings.

Sunday in Istanbul offered such an instance. “This has been such a tough year for everybody and I hope for a better year next year. I haven’t been out. I haven’t taken any risks this year as I had a championship to fight for. That’s made it quite difficult. I’ll wait until I can be around my family, my friends and celebrate with them,” stated Hamilton.

The world champion additionally arrange the Hamilton Commission this 12 months with the intention to extend the illustration of Black individuals in motorsport. Hamilton’s presence additionally made Mercedes repaint their silver livery black for the 2020 season.

Every time he has appeared down and out, the boy from Stevenage has risen from nowhere. Like the “Still I Rise” tattoo between his shoulder blades, he asserts himself, on or off the monitor, rising on high as a rule.

Asked by former driver Mark Webber on the podium what number of titles he can win, Hamilton stated: “I feel like I’m only just getting started.”