Relive Lewis Hamilton’s historic 2020 Formula 1 season – a year of unmatched dominance, resilience, and legacy-defining greatness.
Seven Stars: Lewis Hamilton’s Legacy in Formula 1
Over the past seven weeks, we’ve relived the seasons that shaped Lewis Hamilton’s legacy. Each chapter brought us closer to understanding the brilliance that defines his career as he is officially beginning a new career as a Scuderia Ferrari driver.
Now, on January 7th – Hamilton’s birthday – we celebrate the seventh and final instalment of this series. It’s a fitting tribute to the season that cemented his place among the greatest of all time.
If you missed any of the previous articles, you can catch up here:
- 2008: The Birth of a Champion
- 2014: The Dawn of a Dynasty
- 2015: A Championship of Perfection
- 2017: The Art of Resilience
- 2018: The Fight for Five
- 2019: A Season of Control
The year 2020 was more than a championship. It was the culmination of Hamilton’s skill, resilience, and determination. As Formula 1 faced a world of uncertainty, Hamilton not only rose above the competition but also used his platform to inspire change far beyond the track.
Join us as we delve into a season that will forever be remembered as a testament to greatness.
2020: The Greatest Ever
The 2020 Formula 1 season was a testament to his unparalleled greatness.
Amid a pandemic-altered calendar and uncertain world, Hamilton rose above it all, cementing his status as the sport’s most dominant driver. His seventh World Drivers’ Championship tied him with the legendary Michael Schumacher, but the manner in which Hamilton achieved this milestone was uniquely his own.
Hamilton’s 2020 season didn’t just end with historic numbers – it left an indelible mark on Formula 1 history. By the season finale, Hamilton had accumulated 166 podium finishes and a jaw-dropping 95 race wins.
Rather than reviewing the season in its entirety, this article highlights seven defining moments that secured Hamilton’s 2020 title – seven moments that encapsulate his brilliance, resilience, and championship pedigree.
Each of these moments showcases why, for many, 2020 solidified his legacy as the greatest ever.
Rain Levels the Field but Hamilton Stands Alone
The first two rounds of the season – Austrian Grand Prix and Styrian Grand Prix – were held in Austria. Both races were held at the Red Bull ring, exactly one week apart after the 2020 season was rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
For the Styrian GP, the conditions were treacherous, suitable only for the Wet tyres. Despite rain acting as an equaliser for the entire grid, there was one man who stood out that day. It could have been none other than Lewis Hamilton.
The Brit sailed his Mercedes across the line to set a time of 1.19.273, ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by 1.2 seconds, an outstanding gap in the rain.
The result was not surprising, however, as Hamilton has often proven himself as a level above the rest in wet conditions.
Defying the Odds on Three Wheels
Hamilton’s seventh win at Silverstone nearly slipped away in the dying moments of the 2020 British Grand Prix.
The Brit had been in control for most of the race, leading comfortably as the only real contender for victory. But fate took a cruel turn when Hamilton’s W11 suffered a similar fate to teammate Valtteri Bottas’ car.
With just half a lap to go, Hamilton’s front left tyre shredded, threatening to derail what had seemed like a certain win. As the race leader limped toward the finish line, Verstappen, who was over 30 seconds behind, closed the gap rapidly, ready to seize on Hamilton’s misfortune.
Despite the mounting pressure, Hamilton kept his composure, guiding his three-wheeled Silver Arrow across the line to secure victory five seconds ahead of Verstappen.
The win became an indelible statement of determination, even in the face of adversity.
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A Legacy Elevated in Barcelona
Two races later, at the Spanish Grand Prix, Hamilton claim yet another victory, extending his championship lead by 37 points.
From the moment the lights went out, the Brit was in a league of his own, leading from pole and cruising to a comfortable chequered flag. He lapped the entire field, bar Bottas and Verstappen who finished on the podium with him.
It was a performance that was as much about dominance as it was about legacy – a legacy that many once thought impossible to match, let alone surpass.
But Hamilton has always defied expectations.
As he stood atop the podium in sunny Catalunya, he etched his name further into Formula 1 history, breaking Michael Schumacher’s long-held record for the most podium finishes. With that victory, Hamilton secured his 156th podium, marking yet another incredible milestone in his unprecedented career.
The Italian Job
At the Italian Grand Prix, Hamilton once again showcased his dominance, holding a commanding lead from pole. But what appeared to be another routine victory quickly unravelled on Lap 20.
A Safety Car deployment prompted Mercedes to call Hamilton into the pits. However, the pit lane had been closed moments before – a critical oversight that resulted in Hamilton being handed a 10-second stop-and-go penalty, costing him the win.
The penalty, served on Lap 29, plunged him from a comfortable lead to dead last, transforming what seemed destined to be another win into a monumental recovery race at Monza, the Temple of Speed. Despite the setback and the challenge of overtaking at the circuit, Hamilton unleashed a determined charge through the field.
Climbing back to P7 by the checkered flag, Hamilton salvaged critical points in a race defined by unpredictability.
Up ahead, Pierre Gasly seized a historic maiden victory for AlphaTauri – a poetic triumph at the very track where he silenced critics after being unceremoniously dropped by Red Bull.
While Gasly’s redemption story stole the headlines, Hamilton’s ability to fight back from last to P7 showed his resilience and determination to never give up.
The Race That Changed History
In Portugal, the Brit broke yet another record many once thought would never be eclipsed.
The race began with Hamilton conceding the lead to teammate Valtteri Bottas, slipping to P3 on the opening lap. However, Hamilton’s determination and racecraft came to the fore as he fought back, reclaiming the lead by Lap 20.
From there, the Mercedes driver delivered a masterclass in pace and control, building a staggering 25-second gap to Bottas by the time he crossed the finish line in P1.
With his victory in Portimao, Hamilton claimed his 92nd career win, surpassing Schumacher’s long-standing record and cementing his place as F1’s most successful driver in terms of race wins.
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Seventh Heaven
As if it was written in the stars, fourteen years after that infamous GP2 race in Istanbul that defined his young career, Hamilton earned his seventh title in Istanbul. The young Black boy from Stevenage had equalled Schumacher’s record for most F1 Drivers’ Championships.
Two races later, towards the end of the season, Hamilton rewrote history yet again.
Starting the Turkish Grand Prix from P6, he delivered one of the finest performances of his career, mastering incredibly difficult conditions to take the victory.
On a track that felt like thin ice, grip was a rare commodity, and Hamilton struggled in the early laps like everyone else. But as the race progressed, he found his rhythm. After a challenging first stint for the entire grid, Hamilton took the lead from Racing Point’s Sergio Perez on Lap 37.
On tyres that were over 50 laps old, Hamilton crossed the line 31 seconds ahead of Perez. It was a wet-weather masterclass, showcasing his unparalleled ability to manage tyres and pace under pressure.
As if written in the stars, fourteen years after his iconic GP2 victory in Istanbul – a race that defined his young career – Hamilton returned to the very same circuit to claim his seventh World Drivers’ Championship title.
The young Black boy from Stevenage had done it. He equalled Michael Schumacher’s legendary record for the most F1 titles.
A Champion On and Off the Track
2020 was a year of profound pain and reckoning for Black people around the world.
The killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor sparked global protests, shining a spotlight on systemic racism and injustice. It was a difficult year to watch, to live, and to process, especially for people of colour.
In a sport often criticized for its lack of diversity, Lewis Hamilton stepped up as a beacon of hope and a voice for change.
From kneeling on the grid in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement to wearing a T-shirt demanding justice for Breonna Taylor, Hamilton used his platform fearlessly, ensuring the message was impossible to ignore.
He didn’t just win races. He amplified the voices of the unheard.
And then came Istanbul, the Turkish Grand Prix, where Hamilton secured his seventh World Drivers’ Championship. On a day that was already historic, he stood on the world stage and dedicated his victory to “all the kids out there who dream the impossible.”
For any person of colour, watching a young Black man from Stevenage, a sport so unapologetically white, reach the pinnacle of success was more than inspiring – it was transformative.
It wasn’t just a win for Hamilton. It was a win for representation, for breaking barriers, and for proving that no matter how impossible the dream may seem, it’s always within reach.
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