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 9
The Racing Points don’t stop … Vettel does … neither Red Bull does but Hamilton follow him in. The two world champions blink first of the frontrunners, and I’ve got to say I think it’s an inspired move if they can fire them up immediately.
Turkish Grand Prix: Lap 8
The times are improving with every lap now and the track is definitely drying out, with Vettel, Verstappen, Albon and Hamilton all faster than he lead two that time round. It could be time for inters here, as Hamilton sets the fastest lap of the race.
Bottas pits for inters! He says he can’t do anything about the train in front of him, and Leclerc is setting fastest sectors on the intermediate tyres! It’s time to change.
Turkish Grand Prix: Lap 7
Stroll already has a pit-stop advantage over sixth-placed Hamilton, but his teammate is bringing the fight to him as he takes a second out of the lead, which is down to 4.7s. Leclerc pits from 14th and he’s going to be the first to blink onto the inters.
Turkish Grand Prix: Lap 4
The Racing Points are flying along and Stroll already has 15 seconds on third-place Vettel, who has Verstappen all over the back of him but unable to pass. Perez, running in second, sets the fastest lap of the race as Stroll reports it’s drying out, although the two Williams’ who are the only cars on intermediates are currently struggling for pace at the back of the grid.
Turkish Grand Prix: Lap 3
Disaster for Bottas and Ocon. Not only did they both spin on the exit of Turn One, but they then spun again at Turn 10 when Bottas dived beneath the Renault and tagged him having not completed the move. Ocon was forced to pit at the end of the opening lap.
Turkish Grand Prix: Lap 2
Verstappen has a hairy moment as he runs deep into Turn 11 and nearly wipes out Vettel, and it puts Albon onto the back of the sister Red Bull. Stroll has a five second lead out in front already.
Turkish Grand Prix: Lap 1
Hamilton’s off! He runs long into Turn Nine and that allows Vettel and Verstappen to pass. The Ferrari is flying as Vettel has made up eight places on the opening lap. Bottas meanwhile is down to 18th and has a lot of work to do from here.
Turkish Grand Prix: Lap 1
Bottas spins! So does Ocon, and Verstappen gets a terrible start as he simply wheelspins on the line. Hamilton gets a strong start and is up to third, but Bottas ends the first corner facing backwards!
It’s a Racing Point one-two as Stroll leads Perez!
Turkish Grand Prix: Lap 1
Lights out! The Turkish Grand Prix is under way!
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