MMOTORCYOTORCYCCLINGLING | Page 2 TENNIS | Page 7 Consistency Thiem beats pays as Mir Tsitsipas in wins fi rst ATP Finals world title opener FOOTBALL Monday, November 16, 2020 Rabia II 1, 1442 AH Germany shine in Nations League as GULF TIMES Ramos endures miserable landmark SPORT Page 3 ‘Thank you so much guys...that’s for all the kids out there who dream the impossible. You can do it too man, I believe in you...’ Reuters SPOTLIGHT Istanbul ritain’s Lewis Hamilton held back the tears as he won a record-equalling seventh Formula One world championship yesterday and be- Bcame the most successful driver in the sport’s Vettel history. The Mercedes ace put on a masterclass in wet and slippery conditions to take a record-stretching 94th ca- reer win at a rollercoaster of a Turkish Grand Prix and secure the title with three races to spare. acclaims Only Ferrari great Michael Schumacher has seven ti- tles to his name, a number once thought unlikely ever to be matched, but most of the German’s records have passed to Hamilton. So complete was Hamilton’s domination that he Hamilton lapped sole rival and team mate Valtteri Bottas with 12 laps to go on a nightmare afternoon for the spinning Finn who fi nished 14th. Hamilton already had more race wins, pole posi- tions and podium fi nishes than anyone in the history of as ‘greatest the sport but, despite starting a season-low sixth, the 35-year-old was determined to add to the tally. “Thank you so much guys...that’s for all the kids out there who dream the impossible. You can do it too man, I believe in you guys,” he whooped over the radio after of our era’ taking the chequered fl ag. The Briton fi nished a massive 31.6 seconds clear of Racing Point’s second-placed Mexican Sergio Perez in a race run behind closed doors due to the Covid-19 pan- demic. “Seven is just unimaginable but when you work with such a great group of people and you really trust each other, there is just no end to what can do together,” said Hamilton, who has yet to sign a new deal for 2021. “I feel like I’m only just getting started.” Hamilton was congratulated after parking up by Pe- rez, who still has no seat for 2021, and Ferrari’s Sebas- tian Vettel who completed the podium in a race full of spins and changes of lead. “I told him that it was very special for us because we can witness history being made today,” said Vettel, a four-times world champion with Red Bull and on the podium for the fi rst time this year. “There is no doubt Lewis is the greatest in terms of what he has achieved.” Bottas, who said over the radio four laps from the end that he wished the race was already fi nished, also went across to extend his hand. Mercedes had already won the constructors’ cham- pionship for a seventh year in a row, an unprecedented feat. While Perez started third and eked out his tyres, Canadian teammate Lance Stroll saw his dreams of a fi rst win disappear after leading from his fi rst pole posi- tion. He fi nished ninth, the slide down the order start- Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel celebrates on the podium with a ing when he pitted on lap 37. trophy after finishing the race in third place. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc took fourth place, after passing Perez on the last lap but then sliding wide, with Reuters “It doesn’t matter. I think Spaniard Carlos Sainz fi fth for McLaren and Red Bull’s Istanbul every era has its driver or Max Verstappen sixth. drivers and Lewis is the Red Bull’s Alexander Albon was seventh with Lando greatest of our era,” contin- Norris eighth for McLaren and taking a bonus point for our-times world ued the Ferrari driver, who the fastest lap. Australian Daniel Ricciardo was 10th champion Sebastian won his titles with Red Bull for Renault. Hamilton said there was a point where he Vettel hailed Lewis from 2010-13 and had hoped thought the race was slipping away from him, and the Hamilton as the to add to them at Ferrari. leaden skies and constant threat of rain added to the Fgreatest of his era after the “To me emotionally sense of uncertainty, but he kept believing. Mercedes driver celebrated Michael will always be the When the team suggested he pit for fresh tyres to- Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton celebrates his seventh Formula One greatest driver but there is wards the end, given the safety of his lead and the on the podium after winning the title with victory in a wet no doubt that Lewis is the amount of laps done on the worn intermediates, he Turkish Grand Prix and the world Turkish Grand Prix yester- greatest in terms of what he over-ruled them. championship yesterday. day. has achieved. “I lost a world championship in the pit-lane, I learned The German was quick to “He has equalled the my lesson from 2007, that’s for sure. I felt like I really congratulate his British ri- championships, he has more had it under control and I was going to deal with the rain val after Hamilton equalled races won, he has a lot more if it dropped,” said the former McLaren driver. Ferrari great Michael Schu- pole positions.” macher’s record seven and, Hamilton smashed Schu- with an unprecedented 94 macher’s record of 91 wins RESULTS AND STANDINGS wins, became the most suc- with his 92nd in Portugal LEWIS HAMILTON FACTFILE cessful driver in the sport’s last month. RACE (TOP 10) 4. Sergio Perez (MEX) 100, 5. Charles Leclerc (MON) history. Vettel said Sunday’s race, Name: Lewis Hamilton (since 2013) 1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 1hr 42mins 97, 6. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) 96, 7. Carlos Sainz Jr “I told him that it’s very on a wet and slippery track Date of birth: January 7, 1985 Debut: Australia 2007 (3rd) 19.313sec, 2. Sergio Perez (MEX/Racing Point- (ESP) 75, 8. Lando Norris (GBR) 74, 9. Alexander special for us because we can that caught out plenty of Place of birth: Stevenage, England First win: Canada 2007 Mercedes) at 31.633sec, 3. Sebastian Vettel (GER/ Albon (THA) 70, 10. Pierre Gasly (FRA) 63, 11. Lance witness history being made drivers, was proof of Ham- Stroll (CAN) 59, 12. Esteban Ocon (FRA) 40, 13. Se- Nationality: British Last win: Turkey 2020 Ferrari) 31.960, 4. Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) today,” third-placed Vettel ilton’s extraordinary talent. 33.858, 5. Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/McLaren-Renault) bastian Vettel (GER) 33, 14. Daniil Kvyat (RUS) 26, 15. Height: 1.74m Victories: 94 34.363, 6. Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull-Honda) Nico Hulkenberg (GER) 10, 16. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) told reporters when asked “Probably if we are honest Weight: 66kg Podiums: 163 44.873, 7. Alexander Albon (THA/Red Bull-Honda) 4, 17. Antonio Giovinazzi (ITA) 4, 18. Romain Grosjean what he had told Hamilton it wasn’t his race to win and Team: Mercedes-AMG Pole positions: 97 46.484, 8. Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren-Renault) (FRA) 2, 19. Kevin Magnussen (DEN) 1 after stepping out of the car. he still won it,” said the Ger- Car number: 44 Fastest laps: 53 1min 01.259sec, 9. Lance Stroll (CAN/Racing “He is the greatest of our man, who is leaving Ferrari Formula One career Points scored: 3,738 Point-Mercedes) 1:12.353, 10. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/ Constructors standings era for sure. I think it’s al- at the end of the year. World championships: 7 — 2008, 2014, Championship history: 1st (2008, 2014, Renault) 1:35.460 1. Mercedes 504 pts – champions, 2. Red Bull- ways diffi cult to compare “Once again, he managed Honda 240, 3. Racing Point-Mercedes 154, 4. 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020), 2nd (2007, Drivers standings McLaren-Renault 149, 5. Renault 136, 6. Ferrari 130, 7. (eras) — how can you possi- to pull something special out Races: 264 2016), 4th (2010, 2012, 2013), 5th (2009, 1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) 307 pts – champion, 2. Valt- AlphaTauri-Honda 89, 8. Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari bly compare (Juan Manuel) of that bag and therefore I Teams: McLaren (2007-2012), Mercedes 2011) teri Bottas (FIN) 197, 3. Max Verstappen (NED) 170, 8, 9. Haas-Ferrari 3 Fangio and Stirling Moss to think he deserves everything our generation? You can’t. he has achieved.” Gulf Times 2 Monday, November 16, 2020 SPORT FORMULA 1 The Mercedes MOTORCYCLING driver’s seventh Formula One title, Consistency pays secured in as Joan Mir wins Hamilton still Turkey with three races to fi rst MotoGP world spare, raised him to new heights as championship rising, on and the sport’s most successful driver of all time and surely with off the track more to come Team Suzuki Ecstar’s Joan Mir celebrates on the podium after winning the world championship yesterday. AFP Aft er a season of solid Valencia, Spain consistency, Mir held a 37-point lead meaning he only needed to fi nish on the uzuki’s Joan Mir won podium in the penultimate the MotoGP world title race to secure the title, yesterday a week af- while fourth would have Ster finally securing his been enough if neither Alex maiden Grand Prix triumph at Rins nor Fabio Quartararo the same Valencia circuit. won The 23-year-old from Mal- lorca inherited the crown left that put him out of the race.