Lewis Hamilton wins Turkish GP to clinch record-equalling seventh F1 title

The British driver already had more podium finishes, pole position and race wins in the history of the game.

Istanbul: Ace British Formula one driver Lewis Hamilton on Sunday won a dramatic rain-hit Turkish Grand Prix and in the process equalled Michael Schumacher's seven world drivers' championship record.

It was Hamilton's 10th victory of the season. The Racing Point's Sergio Perez and Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel completed the podium after a thrilling race in Istanbul.

Hamilton had started the race in sixth, risen to third midway through the first lap and then dropped back to sixth by the end of Lap 1 after an error at Turn 9. But a decision to change his intermediate tyres just once saw Hamilton drive a masterful race to claim victory by over 25 seconds from Perez.

Behind Hamilton, a dramatic last-lap saw Sergio Perez overtaken by Ferrari's Charles Leclerc for P2, only for Leclerc to overcook it at Turn 12, with Perez retaking second as Vettel made it through on his team-mate to claim a first podium of the season.

After the victory, Hamilton said he is 'definitely a bit lost for words'.

"Lewis: I am definitely a bit lost for words. A huge thanks to the team. To Team LH for sticking with me for all these years. And to my family. This is way, way beyond our dreams'," Formula 1 tweeted.

This is also the 35-year-old drivers' fourth consecutive title with Mercedes and sixth in the past seven seasons. Last time, when Hamilton was not able to clinch the world title was in 2016 when his team-mate Nico Rosberg got better off him.

The British driver already had more podium finishes, pole position and race wins in the history of Formula 1.