Hamilton Overtakes Schumacher With Record 92nd F1 Win
LONDON (Dispatches) - Six-times world champion Lewis Hamilton has become the most successful Formula One driver of all time in terms of race wins with a dominant 92nd career victory at the Portuguese Grand Prix.
The Mercedes driver, who took the chequered flag a huge 25.592 seconds ahead of second-placed team mate Valtteri Bottas, had equalled Ferrari great Michael Schumacher’s record 91 wins at the previous race at the Nuerburgring.
Victory, along with a bonus point for fastest lap, stretched the Briton’s championship lead over Bottas to 77 points with five races remaining.
"You are re-writing the history books,” Mercedes told Hamilton over the team radio, with team boss Toto Wolff adding: "Lewis, 92. 92.”
Dutch youngster Max Verstappen finished third for Red Bull at the Algarve circuit near Portimao that was hosting the country’s first grand prix in 24 years.
Hamilton lapped all but the three drivers behind him but it had not looked so simple at the start when he dropped to third from pole position on a lively opening lap with occasional rain complicating matters.
The Mercedes driver, who took the chequered flag a huge 25.592 seconds ahead of second-placed team mate Valtteri Bottas, had equalled Ferrari great Michael Schumacher’s record 91 wins at the previous race at the Nuerburgring.
Victory, along with a bonus point for fastest lap, stretched the Briton’s championship lead over Bottas to 77 points with five races remaining.
"You are re-writing the history books,” Mercedes told Hamilton over the team radio, with team boss Toto Wolff adding: "Lewis, 92. 92.”
Dutch youngster Max Verstappen finished third for Red Bull at the Algarve circuit near Portimao that was hosting the country’s first grand prix in 24 years.
Hamilton lapped all but the three drivers behind him but it had not looked so simple at the start when he dropped to third from pole position on a lively opening lap with occasional rain complicating matters.