Lewis Hamilton was in total control throughout the Styrian Grand Prix on Sunday, with the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team racer taking his first victory of 2020 in commanding fashion.
The British racer, aiming for a record-equalling seventh World Drivers’ Championship this year, was untouchable throughout the seventy-one-lap event, finishing more than thirteen seconds clear of team-mate Valtteri Bottas on a track he feels is one of his weakest.
It was a good way to rebound from finishing fourth in the Austrian Grand Prix at the same circuit seven days ago after a penalty for making avoidable contact with Alexander Albon late in the day, and he now moves up to second place in the Drivers’ Championship heading into next weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix.
“This has tended to be one of my weaker tracks, so I am over the moon to have a performance like this today – so, so happy,” said Hamilton. “This feels like a long time coming since the final race of last year and it is a great step forward to come back from a difficult first weekend.
“The team did a fantastic job with the strategy and then it was about keeping it together, staying off the kerbs and bringing it home.”
Hamilton admitted he attempted to go for the fastest lap late in the race but he was unable to take the bonus point on offer due to the late pit stop for fresh softs from McLaren F1 Team racer Carlos Sainz Jr., but the Briton was content with the outcome of the race weekend at the Red Bull Ring.
“I tried to get the fastest lap towards the end, but I had 40-lap old Mediums, so it was going to be difficult against someone on new, fresh rubber,” admitted Hamilton. “A big thank you to my team and everyone back at the factories, they have done a brilliant job.
“I think it’s easy to lose focus and determination, but I don’t ever see that with this team. We know there’s a long way to go and it’s a challenge for everyone, but this is a step forward, for sure.”
