Mercedes, Hamilton scores 42: “Special to overtake Ayrton, I thank the team”

Indomitable on the track, irrepressible off it. Lewis Hamilton it is the unique one man show of a Formula 1 bowed at his feet. The Sochi race had no history after Nico Rosberg's unfortunate retirement: Lewis imposed his pace, said goodbye to the company and had a race of his own, taking home his ninth success of the season with disarming ease. The one in the Russian GP is the forty-second career victory for the Anglo-Caribbean, who thus reaches Sebastian Vettel and surpasses a certain Ayrton Senna in the overall ranking.

"It's really a special moment for me, I surpassed Ayrton's number of victories and I'm happy to have done it here in Russia – says Lewis, complete with a Pirelli-branded hat on his head – I just have to thank the team who do an incredible job, I am proud of the results we are achieving. I'm living a dream"

A word also for the great bad luck suffered by Nico Rosberg, with a touch of concern: “Nico and I were close at the start and I was already thinking about how to overcome him and win the race – continued Hamilton – It was a shame for the team to lose a car. Among other things, it was an unusual failure, we are always attentive to reliability. Nico was very unlucky and we hope the problem never happens again."

In the throes of euphoria there is also a strange invitation to Ferrari: “They are close, but they still have to work a little to reach us. I hope they arrive soon, because I would like to fight with Vettel wheel to wheel to give a real show to the fans. I'm ready for this great duel" and as Lewis finished saying it, Vettel – on the other side of parc fermé – hoped the same thing.

Antonino Rendina

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