Lewis’s wins rated
100 Russia 2018
Is there such a thing as a ‘worst win’? Well, if we had to pick one it would be this 2018 victory, which came courtesy of team orders rather than any innate genius from Hamilton. Mercedes had locked out the front row in Sochi but it was Valtteri Bottas who lined up on pole ahead of his team-mate. Hamilton got a poor getaway but with a co-operative Bottas handing him a tow, he fended off Vettel to secure P2 into Turn 2. Hamilton stuck with Bottas through the first stint to keep the pressure on but couldn’t get in range for an overtake until Mercedes told Bottas to make way for his team-mate to secure the victory. “It is definitely a win on my list that I am least proud of,” said a downbeat Hamilton afterwards. Verdict: Bottas moved aside For Hamilton to win.
99 Russia 2014
The first F1 Russian GP took place as the 2014 season reached its final stages. Hamilton had taken pole ahead of team-mate Rosberg. The German got a tow into Turn 2 and looked to seize the lead on the inside but flat-spotted under braking. Hamilton was through and there was no hope of catching him after that. Verdict: An easy win after Rosberg’s lock-up.
98 Australia 2015
Hamilton started on pole but a safety car closed the field up. He led comfortably at the restart until his only pitstop on lap 25, relinquishing the lead to team-mate Rosberg, who then also pitted. Hamilton’s win looked effortless: a dominant 1-2 for Mercedes. Verdict: As simple as they come.
97 Russia 2015
Rosberg started on pole with Hamilton alongside and had the better start of the two Mercedes drivers. The pair almost collided as the safety car was deployed out of T3. Rosberg led comfortably at the restart but couldn’t shake his team-mate. He reported throttle issues as Hamilton applied the pressure. A mistake on lap seven opened the door for Hamilton, and he eased by. Rosberg’s throttle sticking in the braking zones forced him out, dealing a death blow to his title aspirations. Hamilton was required only to put in a straightforward drive to take his ninth win of the season. Verdict: Rosberg’s unreliability gifted the win.
96 Azerbaijan 2018
This was another victory that was down more to the misfortune of others than the quality of Hamilton. Vettel pipped him to pole and the Mercedes couldn’t get close enough to the Ferrari through the first stint. Bottas ran a long first stint to take the lead until a safety car deployed. Vettel attacked into the first corner on the restart but locked up; Bottas’ prospects looked good until a puncture struck. It promoted team-mate Hamilton into first and gave a victory that looked unlikely until the end. Verdict: A poor day for Lewis until Bottas’ bad luck struck.
95 Brazil 2018
This race will be remembered for Max Verstappen’s drive more than Hamilton’s victory. With the Ferraris on mediums and the Mercedes duo on softs, there was potential for the Scuderia to steal a tactical advantage if Vettel could clear pole-sitter Hamilton early on. But it was Verstappen who proved the main threat, rising from fifth on the grid to second by lap 10. Such was the race pace of the Red Bull, Mercedes was forced to pit Hamilton to protect from a potential undercut. After his own stop, Verstappen roared up to the back of the Mercedes and claimed the lead on lap 40. It was short-lived joy for Red Bull though. Incredibly, Verstappen collided with the Force India of Esteban Ocon sending Verstappen spinning and let Hamilton take a lead he would ultimately hold on to. Verdict: Verstappen quickest on the day.
94 Singapore 2014
94 Pole was decided by 0.007sec in Hamilton’s favour under the Singapore lights but the drama wasn’t finished in the Mercedes camp. Rosberg had a problem with his steering wheel, which couldn’t be fixed, leaving Hamilton as the lone Mercedes. With no serious competition he led Vettel to an easy victory. Verdict: It was ultimately no contest after Rosberg’s issues on the grid.
93 Abu Dhabi 2011
Vettel led from pole but his advantage lasted just two corners due to a puncture and Hamilton took the lead. In the latter stages Ferrari’s Alonso closed the gap on the McLaren driver but it proved a fruitless attempt. Verdict: Vettel’s puncture and spin at the start left Hamilton unchallenged at the front.
92 Emilia Romagna 2020
Mercedes’ Bottas claimed pole and led on the opening lap,
