Hamilton seals historic 7th title with peerless wet-weather victory in the Turkish GP

A stunning drive from Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton in the Turkish Grand Prix gave him his 10th victory of the season – and, more crucially, saw him claim the seventh drivers’ title of his career, to equal the record of Michael Schumacher, as Racing Point’s Sergio Perez and Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel completed the podium after a thrilling race in Istanbul.

Super performance by Hamilton in the wet and sliding Turkish GP

Hamilton had started the race in sixth, risen to third midway through the first lap and then dropped back to sixth by the end of Lap 1 after an error at Turn 9. But a decision to change his intermediate tyres just once saw Hamilton drive a masterful race to claim victory by over 25 seconds from Perez.

The win alone was enough to claim championship #7, but it was even more assured after a disastrous race for Valtteri Bottas – the only man who could have stopped Hamilton winning the title today – who spun six times en route to a P14 finish.

Perez saved the tyres and got the podium

Behind Hamilton, a dramatic last lap saw Sergio Perez overtaken by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc for P2. However Leclerc to overcook it at Turn 12, with Perez retaking second as Vettel made it through on his team mate to claim a first podium of the season.

Charles misses podium in the final lap. Instead Seb gets it

Leclerc was left to cross the line P4 ahead of the McLaren of Carlos Sainz. A spin-filled afternoon for the Red Bull pair left Max Verstappen and Alex Albon P6 and P7 at the flag.

McLaren had the race pace

Norris had claimed that place after a late pass on the second Racing Point of Lance Stroll, who’d secured a brilliant maiden pole position and Saturday and led much of the early part of the Grand Prix, only for his race to unravel after a difficult third stint on intermediate tyres. That left him ninth at the flag. Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo completed the points in P10.

All eyes were on Hamilton though, who was in tears as he was congratulated on his slow-down lap. He well and truly cemented himself into Formula 1’s record books.

Turkish GP final Race Classification

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Sergio Perez revealed today that he will be leaving Racing Point from 2021. Sebastian Vettel will replace him in the renamed Aston Martin team for ‘2021 and beyond’.

Adios Checo!

Sergio Perez said the 2020 season would be his last with the Silverstone-based squad, despite the fact he signed a three-year contract just last year. Four time world champion Sebastian Vettel will replace him.

He added that he has no “Plan B” in terms of a drive for 2021, and that the move “hurts a bit as I bet on the team during very rough times” – referring to the period in 2018 when the team went into administration, before being bought out by a consortium led by Lawrence Stroll.

In a statement he said: “Everything in life always has a beginning and an end, and after seven years together, my time with the team will come to an end after this season.

“It hurts a bit as I bet on the team during very rough times; we managed to overcome obstacles and I am very proud of saving the jobs of several of my team mates.”

Team Principal Otmar Szafnauer said: “Perez has been part of the Silverstone family for seven years and in that time has become one of the most complete drivers on the grid.

“If there was ever a sniff of a podium, Perez was ready to pounce, and those five podiums represent some of the finest days in the history of this team.

“Outside of the car, Checo is a true character and a good friend, and it’s been a pleasure working with him for such a long time. Although we will say goodbye at the end of the year, there are still nine races to go and plenty of opportunities for Checo to make some more special memories with this team.”

ENTER SEBASTIAN VETTEL

Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel will remain in Formula 1 beyond this season after putting pen to paper with Racing Point, who will rebrand as Aston Martin F1 Team from 2021.

Racing Point say the 33-year-old’s deal, which is for ‘2021 and beyond’, “is a clear statement of the team’s ambition to establish itself as one of the most competitive names in the sport.”

Seb said, “I am pleased to finally share this exciting news about my future, I’m extremely proud to say that I will become an Aston Martin driver in 2021. It’s a new adventure for me with a truly legendary car company. I have been impressed with the results the team has achieved this year and I believe the future looks even brighter.

“The energy and commitment of Lawrence [Stroll] to the sport is inspiring and I believe we can build something very special together. I still have so much love for Formula 1 and my only motivation is to race at the front of the grid. To do so with Aston Martin will be a huge privilege.”

Vettel had been in discussions with billionaire Lawrence Stroll’s team for several months, following Ferrari’s decision to let him go at the end of the year, with McLaren’s Carlos Sainz taking his place alongside Charles Leclerc next year.

Sergio Perez had a multi-year deal which ran until the end of 2022 while Stroll’s son Lance is in the other seat.

1000th race for Ferrari

But on Wednesday evening, on the eve of the inaugural Tuscan Grand Prix at Mugello – Ferrari’s 1000th race – Perez shocked the F1 world by revealing he will leave the team at the end of the year and has no “Plan B” in terms of a drive.

That paved the way for Racing Point to announce Vettel – who won four consecutive championships with Red Bull between 2010 and 2013 – would be joining them, alongside Stroll, for their first season under the Aston Martin brand.

“Everybody at Silverstone is hugely excited by this news,” said Team Principal Otmar Szafnauer. “Sebastian is a proven champion and brings a winning mentality that matches our own ambitions for the future as Aston Martin F1 Team.

“On a Saturday or Sunday afternoon, Sebastian is one of the best in the world, and I can’t think of a better driver to help take us into this new era. He will play a significant role in taking this team to the next level.”

Vettel is currently 13th in the drivers’ championship, with just 16 points and a best finish of sixth in eight races this year as he has struggled for pace in what has been an uncompetitive Ferrari.

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Valtteri Bottas says he has been told by Mercedes it is not considering signing Sebastian Vettel for the 2021 Formula 1 season.

Bottas not worried

Ferrari announced last month that four-time world champion Vettel would be leaving the team at the end of the year, replacing the German driver with McLaren’s Carlos Sainz Jr. It has left Vettel a free agent in the driver market for next year, leading to suggestions he could be signed by Mercedes to form an all-star line-up with six-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.

Mercedes F1 chief Toto Wolff said last week the team could not discount a move for Vettel, but stressed its focus lay with current drivers Hamilton and Bottas, both of whom are out of contract at the end of the year.  

However, Valtteri shrugged them off and even let out a cold-hearted spoiler in the process. Speaking to Sky Sports F1, Bottas confirmed that Vettel wasn’t on Mercedes’ radar.

“No, it doesn’t get to you,” Bottas said of the speculation in an interview with Sky Sports F1.

“We’ve been very honest also with my team all the time, what’s the situation, and how it’s going to be contract-wise.

“I got a pretty straight message that no, they are not considering Seb, so I said fine, no worries then.”

Vettel’s next move?

He further added :-

“It’s the same as every year for me. It’s no different in any way than any other season for me,” Bottas said.

“There are always talks, and the situation has been the same for me.

“I find it quite funny with not even a single race done, there’s been people getting my seat. It made me laugh a couple of times.

“There’s no pressure from that side, because I still have my clear goal for the season in my mind, and that’s it.

“Things will then sort themselves, one way or another, whatever is going to happen. I have no stress about that at all.”

Many reports suggested either Vettel or George Russell would replace the Finn at Mercedes in 2021. Moreover, some rumors hinted at Valtteri considering Renault and even Red Bull as potential options if things don’t work out.

But the biggest talking point from Bottas’ revelation is Vettel’s next move. It seems apparent that the German’s out of options, but we can only wait for now.

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