Rafael Nadal wins 13th French Open, record-equalling 20th Grand Slam PAGE 16 MONDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2020 Incredible feat: Towering Hamilton equals Schumacher’s record British driver claims Eifel GP Hamilton gifted to be on par with 91 F1 wins Schumacher AFP helmet after tying NURBURGRING (GERMANY) LEWIS Hamilton equalled his race win record Michael Schumacher’s re- cord of 91 Formula One wins DPA his dominance for so long I on Sunday when he guided BERLIN don’t think anyone, especially his Mercedes to a narrow, if me, could be anywhere near measured, victory at a frantic Lewis Hamilton was briefly Michael in terms of records. Eifel Grand Prix. Mercedes’ British teammates celebrate driver Lewis Hamilton win- lost for words after equalling “It’s an incredible honour. Taking full advantage of ning the German Formula One Eifel Grand Prix at the Nuerburgring Michael Schumacher’s record of It’s going to take some time to team-mate and pole-sitter circuit in Nuerburg, Germany, on Sunday. (AFP) 91 career wins in Formula One. get used to it. As I came in the Valtteri Bottas’ early retire- That was after the German pit lane that was only when I re- ment with engine problems, but did not serve it - instead great’s son, Mick Schumacher, alized I had equalled the record. the runaway series leader and retiring with hydraulic prob- gifted Hamilton a helmet from I couldn’t have done this without six-time champion drove a lems. his father who has not been this incredible team pushing well-judged race to claim his At the front, Hamilton seen in public since suffering behind me. seventh victory from 11 con- reported his tyres were fi- severe head injuries in a skiing “So a big thank you and tests this year. nally warm and working as he accident seven years ago. huge respect to Michael.” “What a result,” he said on pulled away from Verstappen. “Congratulations. This is Former Schumacher rival Damon the Mercedes team radio af- Lando Norris, a distant from all of us. A great achieve- Hill tweeted: “Great and hugely ter taking the chequered flag Winner Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton celebrates on the podium after the German Formula One third, was struggling with ment,” said the young Schu- generous gift to Lewis Hamilton clear of Max Verstappen for Eifel Grand Prix at the Nuerburgring circuit in Nuerburg, Germany, on Sunday. (AFP) power sensor problems and macher, who leads the F2 series from Mick Schumacher and Red Bull with Renault’s Dan- he pulled up and retired on and could make his F1 debut the Schumacher family. Great iel Ricciardo in third. Bottas’ bad luck handed Lance Stroll’s car after a late On lap 13, Bottas locked lap 45, his abandonment re- next year. class.” Ola Kallenius, chairman Schumacher’s 21-year-old Hamilton his chance and al- call to action while he was in a up into Turn One and Hamil- quiring deployment of the The red helmet was from of the board at Mercedes’ par- son Mick, a rising star and most certainly ended his own cafe in Cologne. ton pounced to lead. The Finn Safety Car. the 2012 season, Schu- ent company Daimler, told Sky leader of the F2 series, pre- title bid as the Briton moved Romain Grosjean, with an had to pit and Verstappen be- Hamilton, Verstappen macher’s last in the sport, with TV he had goosebumps, speak- sented Hamilton with a red 69 points clear in the drivers’ injured finger, was ninth for gan chasing Hamilton who, and Ricciardo pitted for new Hamilton then replacing him at ing of “a very beautiful gesture.” helmet from his father’s ca- championship. Haas ahead of Antonio Giovi- by lap 15, had a 4.3 seconds rubber and resumed in the Mercedes from 2013 onwards. Schumacher’s records in the reer collection. Ricciardo’s podium suc- nazzi of Alfa Romeo. advantage. Bottas rejoined same order when the action “I don’t even know what sport seemed untouchable but “Congratulations on a cess meant that he had won It was Mercedes’ first fourth behind Ricciardo. restarted with a 10-lap dash to say,” Hamilton said at the Hamilton is in the process of re- great achievement,” said a bet with Renault team boss win at the Nurburgring since Bottas’ race ended on lap to the flag. Nuerburgring track where the writing them since a 2007 debut Schumacher junior. Cyril Abiteboul, requiring the Juan-Manuel Fangio tri- 19 when, after a loss of power, Schumacher-S is named after at McLaren and four top spots “It’s such an honour,” Frenchman to take a tattoo umphed at the daunting Nor- he retired. “Unlucky – what CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS the German great. starting in Canada in his rookie said a surprised Hamilton as prescribed by the Australian. dschleife circuit in 1954. can I say?” said Bottas. “It was “When you grow up watch- season in which he almost even many of the 20,000 fans scat- Sergio Perez finished On a cold and damp af- a big loss of power.” DRIVERS ing someone you generally idol- won the title. tered around the circuit gave fourth for Racing Point ahead ternoon, Hamilton gained As Bottas exited, F1’s other 1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) 230 pts ize them in terms of the quality That came a year later, and the Englishman a standing of Carlos Sainz of McLaren, the lead into Turn One at the Finn, Kimi Raikkonen, in a re- 2. Valtteri Bottas (FIN) 161 of the driver they are but also by now the flamboyantB riton ovation. Pierre Gasly of Alpha Tauri, start, but Bottas, from his 14th cord 323rd race, was handed 3. Max Verstappen (NED) 147 what they are able to continu- has lifted the season trophy six “Thank you, I don’t know Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and pole position, switched back a 10-second penalty for ram- 4. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) 78 ously do race by race, year by times and with a 69-point lead what to say. ‘super-sub’ Nico Hulkenberg to regain the initiative in Turn ming George Russell’s Wil- 5. Sergio Perez (MEX) 68 year, week by week. after Sunday’s race is well on “When you grow up watch- of Racing Point. Two. liams. 6. Lando Norris (GBR) 65 “There was a game called course to equal Schumacher’s ing someone that you idolise By lap five, Bottas led from In another incident on a 7. Alexander Albon (THA) 64 Grand Prix 2 and I remember record of seven world titles. as a driver, week in and week FRANTIC DAY Hamilton and Verstappen, the frantic day, Alex Albon collid- 8. Charles Leclerc (MON) 63 playing as Michael and seeing Hamilton already has the out, year on year, and to see For Hulkenberg, it was leading trio soon 15 seconds ed with Daniil Kvyat at Turn 9. Lance Stroll (CAN) 57 most pole positions with 96 and in his 262nd career race in a his dominance, I didn’t imag- a remarkable result coming ahead of Leclerc’s Ferrari as 14, tearing the front wing off 10. Pierre Gasly (FRA) 53 ine that I would ever be here. only 24 hours after he had he battled to resist Ricciardo’s the Russian’s car. Albon was fortnight in Portugal, can move It’s an incredible honour.” jumped into the cockpit of Renault. given a five-second penalty, 11. Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP) 51 ahead of Schumacher with 92 12. Esteban Ocon (FRA) 36 victories. Drivers with most Grand Prix wins in F1 Results of the Eifel Grand Prix, the 11th round of the F1 season 13. Sebastian Vettel (GER) 17 On Sunday, he never looked 14. Daniil Kvyat (RUS) 14 1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 1hr 35min 49.641sec back after passing team-mate Michael Schumacher (Germany) 91 (1991-2012) 15. Nico Hulkenberg (GER) 10 Valtteri Bottas after a small mis- 2. Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull-Honda) at 4.470sec Lewis Hamilton (Britain)* 91 (2007-) 16. Antonio Giovinazzi (ITA) 3 take from the Finn Sebastian Vettel (Germany)* 53 (2007-) 3. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Renault) 14.613 17. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) 2 and coasted Alain Prost (France) 51 (1980-1993) 4. Sergio Perez (MEX/Racing Point-Mercedes) 16.070 18. Romain Grosjean (FRA) 2 into the record Ayrton Senna (Brazil) 41 (1984-1994) 5. Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/McLaren-Renault) 21.905 19. Kevin Magnussen (DEN) 1 books. Fernando Alonso (Spain) 32 (2001-2018) 6. Pierre Gasly (FRA/AlphaTauri-Honda) 22.766 “It is a historic day, Nigel Mansell (Britain) 31 (1980-1995) 7. Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) 30.814 CONSTRUCTORS Jackie Stewart (Britain) 27 (1965-1973) 1. Mercedes 391 pts he had a per- 8. Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Racing Point-Mercedes) 32.596 fect race and Niki Lauda (Austria) 25 (1971-1985) 2. Red Bull-Honda 211 9. Romain Grosjean (FRA/Haas-Ferrari) 39.081 deserves it,” Jim Clark (Britain) 25 (1960-1968) 3. Racing Point-Mercedes 120 10. Antonio Giovinazzi (ITA/Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari) 40.035 Kallenius Juan Manuel Fangio (Argentina) 24 (1950-1958) 4. McLaren-Renault 116 said. Nico Rosberg (Germany) 23 (2006-2016) 11. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) 40.810 A file photo 5. Renault 114 12. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari) 41.476 Nelson Piquet (Brazil) 23 (1978-1991) of Michael 6. Ferrari 80 Damon Hill (Britain) 22 (1992-1999) Schumacher 13. Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas-Ferrari) 49.585 7. AlphaTauri-Honda 67 Winner Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton raises Michael Kimi Raikkonen (Finland)* 21 (2001-) 14.