Page 115 - Automobile Magazine - 9.YIL Özel Kasım Sayısı Türkçe-İngilizce E-Dergi.

Tales from the paddock:

A memorable achievement in the Eifel

he occasion of the 41st thank you to everyone back at the facto-
Grands Prix at the Nürbur- ries and also a huge respect for Michael,
gring brought a very special I feel really grateful today. In terms of the
success for Lewis Hamilton: race itself, it was tough out there. I had a
the six-time world champion really good start and Valtteri did an amaz-
chalked up his 91st Grand ing job to defend into Turn 2, I wouldn’t
TPrix victory on Sunday, equal- expect it to be any other way. Then it was
ling the previous tally of record champi- about trying to figure out how I could
onship winner Michael Schumacher. In beat Valtteri, so I really had to look after
recognition of this achievement, Mick the tyres and make sure I stuck with him.
Schumacher presented Hamilton with I saw he was struggling a bit and knew
one of his father’s helmets immediately the opportunity would come, but then
after the race. For Lewis, it was his sec- he had the lock-up. I managed to build a
ond victory on the Eifel circuit - his first good gap after that, but then the Safety
having come in 2011 - and his seventh Car came out. Max was right behind me
win of the current season. This result was and I knew I had to have a strong restart
also the 288th points-scoring finish for to keep him behind. I managed to catch
a Mercedes-Benz-powered car in For- him out which is always nice and that
mula One. Valtteri Bottas set the fastest gave me the jump I needed. But you can
qualifying time on Saturday to book his see the pace Red Bull had at the end, so
14th pole position in the premier class we’ve got a serious fight on our hands.
of motorsport. Lewis made it a front row Valtteri Bottas; It’s a frustrating way to
lockout for the team, the 72nd in the his- finish a race, it was really good fun until I
tory of the team. Lewis Hamilton; It’s started to lose power during the Virtual
tough to put what this means into words. Safety Car. The start and the battle with
I remember watching Michael winning all Lewis through the first couple of corners
those races when I was a kid and playing was nice, there was no way I was going
racing games with my brother and choos- to make it easy for him. Obviously, later
ing to play as Michael. I dreamed of being on I had a lock-up into Turn 1 and lost the
there myself, but I don’t think anyone and position, which meant I stopped early.
especially me, imagined another driver The new tyres were starting to feel pret-
getting anywhere near Michael’s records. ty good and I was hopeful I could have
It was beyond my wildest dreams to be potentially undercut. Everything was still
equalling his number of race wins and it to play for. But then it was quite a big 115
just shows that dreams can come true. loss of power – something wrong with
It’s an incredible honour and something the Power Unit. We’ll have to investigate
that will take some time to sink in. But I what that is, but it was really unlucky. I
couldn’t have done it without this incred- went around for a couple of laps to see MAGAZINE.COM.TR
ible team, everyone pushing so hard and if it recovered but there was nothing else
giving it absolutely everything. A huge we could do. MAGAZINE.COM.TR

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Kasım - November 2020
Kasım - November 2020