Hamilton Is Set For Seven
A Turkish delight could deliver Lewis Hamilton something very tasty on Sunday night.
When he wins again in Istanbul he will have enough points to claim a record equalling seventh world title.
Then it’s just a question of his fresh contract for Mercedes-AMG, even if it’s a one-year deal, to take the last of the remaining records from Michael Schumacher.
The way Hamilton has thrashed his team mate Valtteri Bottas in recent races, even when the Flying Finn has had the advantage in practice or qualifying, means he is better than odds-on for victory as Formula One returns to a track that really challenges the modern grand prix racers.
But it comes down to the points.
Hamilton currently leads by 83, with 26 more available in Turkey, and if he leaves Istanbul with a 78-point advantage then the final three races of the 2020 season are dead rubbers.
Anyone can do the math, but Hamilton said he is not feeling any pressure this weekend.
“Over the years, I’ve learned not to add pressure that’s unnecessary,” Hamilton said in the lead-up to Istanbul this week.
“I remember when I was fighting for my first world championship, and I remember the build up to those races toward the end and the pressure that was there. That was not needed.
“If I knew then what I know now, I would have easily won that championship. Hindsight is always a great thing.”
Bottas is obviously keen to string things out, and Max Verstappen will be all-in at Red Bull, with Daniel Ricciardo keen to keep Renault third in the teams’ title fight, but all the focus is on Hamilton.
But he seems happy to be relaxing with Roscoe, who helped him celebrate when he overtook Schumacher’s record for F1 wins, without any imperative to do the job this weekend.
“We still have four races. I approach it as I have four races to battle for those points. I don’t put it all on one weekend, one day. For me, this is another race I need to approach exactly the same as I have in the past because if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.
“I’ve really not thought about it coming into this weekend. I don’t really know why. I’m naturally focused on the goal, and the goal is to win the race. I keep that as the focus, and I generally try and think with experience.”
