2020 Eifel Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton claims memorable 91st win ​

2020 Eifel Grand Prix: Hamilton dominates Eifel Grand Prix taking a record equalling 91st Grand Prix win

Mercedes once again domainted qualifying in 2020 and this time Valtteri Bottas romped to Pole Positin ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton. Young Dutchman Max Verstappen lined up third for Red Bull.

T​he Start

Valtteri Bottas led from Pole Position but Lewis Hamilton made a great start to challenge his teammate into Turn one. Bottas kept hold of it and began to pull away over the first Lap.

L​eclerc V Ricciardo

As the top three of Bottas, Hamilton and Verstappen Checked out at the beginning of the race we saw a great battle developing for fourth place between Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Renaults Daniel Ricciardo. Ricciardo seemed much quicker but Leclerc placed his Ferrari in all the rights parts of the track and Lap after Lap frustrates the Australian behind him. At the start of Lap 9 Ricciardo finally snatched 4th from Charles Leclerc forcing the Ferrari to inside at Turn one before cutting back and sweeping around the outside through Turns 2 and 3.

H​amiltons pass for the lead

On Lap 13 Lewis Hamilton finally got within DRS range of Bottas and the Finn locked up his right front forcing him wide at Turn 1. Bottas flag spotted his tyres so badly he had to came in for a new set. As Kimi Raikkonen collided with George Russell giving the Briton a puncture.

V​altteri Bottas' retirement

On Lap 17 Valtteri Bottas suddenly felt a huge loss of power. The Finn was immediately passed by Lando Norris and Sergio Perez. Bottas crawled round trying to coax some life back into his W11 but he couldn’t do it, Valtteri Bottas eventually retired at the end of Lap 18.

L​ando Norris retirement

On Lap 44 Lando Norris’ McLaren broke down at the outside of Turn 6. Norris drove a great race but suffered power issues earlier on dropping him from third to sixth. Critically the Safety Car was deployed with just 15 Laps to go.

S​afety Car restart

On Lap 49 the Safety car came in and race leader Lewis Hamilton bolted leaving Verstappen behind. Ricciardo in a brilliant third clambered all over the back of Verstappen even looking to the outside at Turn one but couldn’t pass the Dutchman.

N​ico Hulkenebergs epic drive

Nico Hulkenberg was expecting to be presenting for the German TV network RTL this weekend however Lance Strolls illness forced the German into action at the Nurburgring. Hulkeneberg did his best in qualifying setting a time just half second behind the next quickest car. During the race Hulkeberg kept his nose clean and avoided all the first lap shenanigans to claim a brilliant 8th place.

D​aniel Riccardos Podium

Daniel Ricciardo stormed to a brilliant third place at the Nurburgring. The Australian showed epic racecraft in a battle with Leclerc early on and kept extremely consistent later on to hammer home third place ahead of Sergio Perez. This was Ricciardos first podium since his victory at the 2018 Monaco GP and Renaults first for 9 years.

H​amilton equals Schumachers win record

Lewis Hamilton controlled the majority of the Eifel Grand Prix after Bottas’ retirement. The Mercedes driver now has a absolutely commanding lead in the World championship and memorably 91 Grand Prix Wins. Hamilton now has the joint most race wins alongside Michael Schumacher.

Lewis Hamilton made an instant impact back in 2007 sweeping around the outside of Alonso in his first race to the heart stopping title win in the bear pit that was Interlagos back in 2008 the boy from Stevenage has excited fans all over the world with his aggressive style and stunning, raw pace.

W​HATS NEXT?

N​ext up on the F1 Calendar we have the Portuguese Grand Prix at the Algarve circuit. This will be unchartered territory for Formula One on the 23-25th of October