Lewis Hamilton wins Styrian Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton won the Styrian Grand Prix from pole position on Sunday in Spielberg, Austria, to clinch an 85th career win and move within six of Michael Schumacher’s Formula One record.

Most of Schumacher’s wins were during a dominant spell with Ferrari, but his old team is struggling badly. For the second time in the past four races, Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel crashed into each other and went out.

When Hamilton stood on the podium he raised a clenched right fist.

Hamilton’s record-extending 89th career pole on a rain-drenched track was one of his best in extreme conditions, but during the race he was hardly challenged as he finished a sizeable 13.7 seconds ahead of Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas and 33.7 ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.

Because of social distancing amid the coronavirus pandemic, the drivers on the podium had their trophies delivered by a remote controlled device.

“What a weird year but [it’s] great to be back driving with this kind of performance. The team did a fantastic job, it was just for me to bring it home,” said Hamilton, who finished fourth last week after a time penalty. “Difficult weekend last weekend but this was a great step forward.”

Bottas won last weekend’s season-opening Austrian GP on the same Red Bull Ring track in Spielberg at the foot of the Styrian mountains, hence the name change.

Like last Sunday, drivers again wore black T-shirts with “End Racism” and most took the knee a few moments before the national anthem.

Hamilton has now won at least one race in each of his 14 years on the circuit.