Lewis Hamilton: ‘I practiced this sport alone,’ says F1 champion after record title win



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A brilliant drive in a rain-soaked Turkish Grand Prix not only saw Hamilton win the race – for a record 94th Grand Prix victory – but also tied Michael Schumacher’s total of seven world titles, the last record of the great German. that the Englishman has not yet surpassed.

In an Instagram post after his landmark achievement, Hamilton said the coronavirus pandemic gave him a chance to “really think about my ultimate goal.”

“Seven world championships represent the world to me, I can’t even describe how badly, but there is yet another race that we haven’t won yet,” the post read.

“This year I have been motivated not only by my desire to win on the track, but also by the desire to help push our sport and our world to become more diverse and inclusive. I promise you that I will not stop to fight for We have a long way to go, but I will continue to promote equality in our sport and in the world we live in.

“Matching Michael Schumacher’s record highlights that I know I won’t be here forever. So, while you’re here, being careful, I want to ask everyone to do their part to help create a more equal world. be more tolerant and kind to each other. Let’s make it so that the desirability does not depend on the background or the color of the skin. “

Hamilton celebrates on the podium after winning the Turkish Grand Prix.

No driver in the history of the sport has won so many races, achieved so many pole positions or been on the podium as many times as Hamilton. He is generally expected to add to his world title record – saying on the podium after the race that he felt “like I’m just getting started” – and his place in the F1 pantheon is long assured.

He is the face of F1, but also his voice and his conscience and has used his stature like no other F1 world champion. The first and only black F1 world champion in 70 years of history, this year he became one of the main voices in sport for the Black Lives Matter movement.

With Hamilton being a force for change, Mercedes – famous for its silver livery – unveiled an all-black car for this season in solidarity with Black Lives Matter, with drivers wearing black uniforms and the halos of both cars featuring the call to “End Racism ”.

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The Briton’s own incredible story – his father, Anthony, juggled three jobs, remortgage the family home, and dipped into his savings to keep his son in karting – is an example of the notorious difficulty entering the sport, mostly in because of the financial costs involved.

Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Hamilton said, “It’s no secret that I played this sport on my own as the only person of color here.

“The point is, I’m biracial … and there’s colourism that maybe people should read.

“When I was younger I didn’t have anyone in the sport that looked like me, so it was easy to think that it wasn’t possible to make it because no one of your color had ever been there. , you don’t see black people in F1. .

“But I hope that sends a message to the kids watching … that no matter where you are from, no matter where you are from, it’s so important for you to dream big.

“You can make your own way and that’s what I was able to do, and it was so hard. Tough doesn’t even describe how hard it was.”

An emotional Hamilton after the race.  He later said he would probably celebrate with minestrone soup and wine.

Immediately after the race, Hamilton sat in his car with his head buried in his hands and struggled to hold back tears.

“I very rarely lose control of my emotions, but I remember those last few laps and just told myself to stay the course,” Hamilton told reporters.

“When I hit the line it really hit me and I burst into tears.

“I didn’t want the visor to go up and people to see the tears because I would always say you’ll never see me cry. I remember seeing other drivers cry in the past, and I was like, I never will. that, but it was too much. “

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Hamilton needed to finish eight points ahead of teammate Valtteri Bottas to secure the title at Istanbul Park. He did so with ease, overtaking the Finn who crossed the 14th line to collect zero points.

Driving in the same Mercedes machines, Bottas’ performance illustrates just how much better Hamilton talent is. No one has come close to challenging the world champion during this truncated season and he has won the title with three races remaining, having won four consecutive races and 10 of 14 races so far this year.



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