2020 Rewind | Turkish GP reactions suggest certain 8th title for Hamilton

The Turkish Grand Prix returned to the Formula 1 calendar in 2020 as stakeholders searched for available circuits ready to replace cancelled events enforced by the Coronavirus pandemic. It was supposed to be a brief appearance, but it turned out to be a memorable occasion for F1 history, Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes. 

Despite starting from sixth on the grid in testing conditions, Hamilton battled his way to the front when the Mercedes car really came alive on the drying circuit. Not only did he win the Turkish Grand Prix, but he also secured his seventh World Championship title. Thus equalling Michael Schumacher’s previously untouchable record. 

On the Istanbul Circuit, Hamilton cemented his place as, statistically speaking, the greatest F1 driver of all time. Despite all of the COVID trouble, it completed what was probably his and Mercedes’ most dominant season out of a myriad of examples in the turbo-hybrid era. At the conclusion of the race, Hamilton had a lead of over 100 points in the World Championship, and Mercedes had accumulated twice as many points as their nearest rivals Red Bull Racing. Verstappen had only led 31 laps across the first 14 races of the season. Truly in control. 

And perhaps even more telling was the delayed introduction of the reprinted rule and regulation book. All of the hype focused on 2021 had diminished because of COVID-19. With seemingly very little changing on the cars, predictions suggested more of the same would come in 2021. 

A certainty 

At the time, it felt as if Hamilton and Mercedes only had to turn up in 2021 to win their eighth World Championship title. It was a guarantee. In GPBlog’s conclusions to the Turkish Grand Prix, published on the following Monday, it was clear these feelings were around. 

"Lewis Hamilton showed in Turkey for the umpteenth time that he is made of strong stuff. The Mercedes driver had a disappointing qualifying, but a day later he drove clear in the difficult conditions at Istanbul Park. Hamilton patiently waited for his chances and ended with a lead of thirty seconds over Sergio Perez. Meanwhile, his teammate was spinning all over the place,” GPBlog reported in November 2020. 

“Only in a fight with Sebastian Vettel did Hamilton lose some time, but otherwise the 35-year-old driver did what he had to do. Unlike Valtteri Bottas, Hamilton was able to impress. It is further proof that Bottas is not good enough to make it difficult for his teammate for an entire season. The difference in the World Championship is also clear to see: 307 to 197 points. That means that only Max Verstappen can prevent an eighth world title for Hamilton. The cars of 2021 are almost identical to the current cars, which means that it will be a very difficult task for the Red Bull Racing driver, probably impossible.”

In his Sky Sports Notebook, Ted Kravitz highlighted the similarities to the 2004 Belgian Grand Prix when Michael Schumacher recorded his seventh World Championship victory. Schumacher looked set to continue his dominant form but eventually bumped into Fernando Alonso in 2005 and 2006. Whilst he could end up foreshadowing the 2021 result, Kravitz suggested that Hamilton’s reign would rumble on for a while yet. 

“We have a wet afternoon that reminds me of Belgium 2004 on the day Schumacher secured his seventh World Championship. On that day in Spa, I remember it well because Schumacher was up on the media centre roof on a cool day. Not particularly wet as it started to get dark,” Kravtiz said.

“He was waving to his fans underneath celebrating seven. We thought then that he’d probably go on to win eight and nine again. The Ferrari was good, we could see Alonso coming but we could see that seven wouldn’t be the end and he’d go on to win some more. He didn’t of course. With Lewis Hamilton, I got the feeling he will go on to win eight and maybe even nine. Lewis has been absolutely outstanding this year. Still he rises. We have a seven-time World Champion over there at Mercedes, with Hamilton. Unlike Schumacher on that day in Spa, I don’t think this is the end of it,” Kravitz concluded. 

Hamilton has plenty left 

On the same afternoon, Hamilton suggested that he felt like he was only just getting started. 

"I feel like I'm only getting started. I feel physically in great shape. This year has been a challenge that I didn't know how to get through, but with the help of people around me I managed to just keep my head above water and stay focused. I'm really hopeful for a better year next year and I would love to stay. I feel like we've got a lot of work to do here, we've only just started our work to make ourselves accountable. I want to help Formula 1, I want to help Mercedes in that journey,” Hamilton told Sky Sports in an interview with Mark Webber. 

Of course, that can still be true. Earlier in 2021, Hamilton penned a deal that will see him remain on the Formula 1 grid for the 2022 and 2023 seasons at least. From Hamilton’s perspective, there’s still plenty of chance for an eighth, ninth and even tenth title. But it’s not as guaranteed as it seemed when the F1 circus last visited the paddock in Turkey as Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing turn on the heat.