Lewis Hamilton: “A race full of emotions”

All the planets had to align perfectly for Lewis Hamilton puts an end to the victory drought that has been going on since the 2017 United States Grand Prix in Austin.

Second on the grid in Baku, the Briton has long seen the Ferrari de Sebastian Vettel set the pace at the head of the race before events turn the event in favor of Mercedes.

But it's Valtteri Bottas who benefited the most from the release of the safety car following the incident between the two Red Bull de Daniel Ricciardo et Max Verstappen. The Finn, in the lead after opting to postpone his stop as far as possible, rushed into the pit lane and left in front of Vettel and Hamilton.

After resisting an attack from Vettel on the restart, the driver of the No. 09 W77 was however slowed down by a puncture three laps from the goal, leaving Hamilton to race towards victory. “It was really a race full of emotions, comments the Briton. Valtteri did an exceptional job today and really deserved the win.

Sebastian did a great job so I was really, really lucky today, it feels a little weird to be here but I have to take it. I didn't give up, I kept pushing but it was definitely a pretty messy ride on my part. »

No doubt the Briton is particularly highlighting his failed braking at the end of the pit straight before his first stop, which significantly damaged his tires, forcing him to enter the pitlane before his rivals Vettel and Bottas.

With this success, Hamilton takes back control of the Drivers' World Championship with 70 points, compared to 66 for Vettel before returning to Europe in Barcelona next month.

Discover the full report and analysis of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, produced by our special correspondents in Baku, in AUTO issue 2163hebdo, available tomorrow evening in digital version, and from this Thursday on newsstands.