Lewis Hamilton fought through incredibly difficult conditions at the Turkish GP to earn his seventh Formula One world title, equaling the all-time record. The victory was an emotional one, leaving him in tears as he joined the ranks of the most successful drivers in F1 history. Even though he started from sixth—his worst grid position of the year—and faced a wet, treacherous track, Hamilton's masterful driving led him to his 94th career win. He officially wrapped up the championship with three rounds still to play.
Until now, only the legendary Michael Schumacher had achieved seven world titles, a feat many believed would never be repeated. Hamilton, however, has proven the skeptics wrong by matching and breaking several of Schumacher's long-standing records in recent years.
Hamilton's control over the Turkish GP was absolute; he was so far ahead that he lapped his Mercedes teammate and title rival, Valtteri Bottas, with 12 laps remaining. For Bottas, the weekend was a catastrophe, marked by several spins and a disappointing 14th-place finish.
After crossing the finish line, Hamilton used his team radio to express gratitude and dedicate the win to all the kids who dare to dream of the impossible.
In his interview, Hamilton admitted that this achievement felt surreal, but credited his hard work and an incredible team for making it a reality. When asked about what comes next, he teased that he's only just getting started.
Once the cars were parked, Hamilton was greeted by Sergio Perez and Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel, the latter of whom secured his first podium of the season. Vettel remarked that it was a privilege to witness history unfolding, stating there is no doubt that Lewis is the greatest driver in terms of wins.
Sebastian Vettel said that he told Hamilton that it was very special for them since they were able to witness history being made today. Vettel added that in terms of wins there was no doubt that Lewis is the greatest.
Bottas later approached Hamilton to congratulate him on the achievement. Meanwhile, the Mercedes team celebrated securing the constructors’ championship for the seventh consecutive year, a streak of dominance unheard of in the history of motorsport.
Sergio Perez, starting from third, delivered a strong performance that solidified his value for next season. Conversely, Lance Stroll's hopes of a maiden victory vanished after he lost his lead from pole position following a pit stop on lap 37. Stroll slid down the rankings, eventually finishing in 9th place.