Turkish Grand Prix LIVE updates as Lewis Hamilton wins seventh world championship
Latest reaction from Istanbul as Lewis Hamilton ties Michael Schumacher’s all-time record of seven Formula One titles
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Your support makes all the difference.Follow the latest updates live from today’s Turkish Grand Prix where Lewis Hamilton attempts to become a seven-time world champion, but will do so from the unfamiliar position of sixth on the grid after the most dramatic qualifying session of the 2020 season.
Hamilton could do nothing to stop the Racing Point of Lance Stroll power to pole position, the first of his Formula One career, with the Canadian pipping Max Verstappen to top spot in what proved a rain-delayed qualifying session. Stroll’s teammate Sergio Perez starts third, with Alex Albon and Daniel Ricciardo also starting in front of champion-elect Hamilton.
The championship leader only needs to finish ahead of Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas - who starts down in ninth - to win the seventh title, with the Finn needing to finish in the top six to have any chance of taking the championship fight to Bahrain in two weeks’ time. However, the tricky conditions in Istanbul is set to deliver a fascinating race this morning. Follow the live action below.
Turkish Grand Prix: Lap 30 standings
1. Stroll
2. Perez +3.7s
3. Albon +7.1s
4. Vettel +8.1s
5. Hamilton +9.3s
6. Ricciardo +22.7s
7. Sainz +25.6s
8. Verstappen +26.9s
9. Leclerc +28.3s
10. Norris +67.1s
Turkish Grand Prix: Lap 28
We’re in a really interesting phase of the race where the track is still too wet for the slicks, but all of the drivers are struggling with the inters and are reporting the front tyres to be losing all grip. Times are still relatively strong, but who will pit for a fresh set of inters and who will hold on for slicks?
Turkish Grand Prix: Lap 27
Albon’s progress has been halted somewhat by Perez, and Stroll is maintaining the gap at around three seconds. However, the man to watch is now Vettel as he’s closing in on the top three, and he’s bringing Hamilton along with him! Could it be a five-car battle for the lead.
Turkish Grand Prix: Lap 25
Stroll is in a spot of bother. He reports tonnes of understeer, and its costing him so much time now as the lead is down to 3.7. Suddenly the top three are all in the same frame.
Turkish Grand Prix: Lap 24
Here’s the scary moment for Max Verstapen that dropped him from third to eighth.
Turkish Grand Prix: Lap 23
Right, it’s Racing Point vs Red Bull round two. Perez saw off the challenge of Verstappen, and now it’s Albon’s turn to try and break the Racing Point one-two that has been in place since the start of the race.
Turkish Grand Prix: Lap 22
The man on the move is Alex Albon, who’s just 1.7s off the back of Perez now and estimated to catch Stroll at this rate well inside the race distance. With the top three all among those to have never won an F1 race, we could well be in for a first-time winner today. Verstappen meanwhile is under investigation for crossing the white line on pit exit.
Lap 20 standings
1. Stroll
2. Perez +6.0s
3. Albon +8.4s
4. Vettel +19.5s
5. Hamilton +20.3s
6. Ricciardo +31.6s
7. Sainz +33.0s
8. Verstappen +34.7s
9. Leclerc +40.2s
10. Magnussen +67.5s
Turkish Grand Prix: Lap 19
Verstappen spins! He gets a run on Perez out of 10 and tries to get inside through the flat-out kink, but Perez has position and the sudden absence of downforce on his front wing sends him into a full-speed spin as he pirouettes round twice before coming to a stop. He keeps the engine going and returns to the track, but that was a scary one and he’s lost position to Albon, Vettel and Hamilton.
Verstappen immediately pits for fresh tyres with huge flat spots on all four tyres, and he’s down to eighth.
Turkish Grand Prix: Lap 18
Verstappen is all over the back of Perez, which is picking up the pace of the Mexican and as a result they’re slowly catching Stroll out in front. Albon meanwhile is setting the fastest laps of the race, until Leclerc pulls one out of nowhere down in ninth.
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