Record F1 title an “incredible” achievement for Mercedes - Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton has hailed Mercedes’ “incredible” achievement of winning a record seventh consecutive Formula 1 world championship title at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

Hamilton led teammate Valtteri Bottas home for another Mercedes 1-2 on F1’s first visit to Imola in 14 years, a result which ensured Mercedes ensured a seventh straight teams’ title.

Mercedes has now eclipsed the record of six successive constructors’ championship victories that it jointly held with Ferrari, and will also claim an unprecedented seventh world championship double in a row with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen now out of title contention.

"I look at my crew, this team here, and I know all the men and women back at the factory, back in Brackley and Brixworth - they are the unsung heroes," Hamilton said after the race.

"They're the ones that have really grafted away and never given up, just continued to push and elevate and innovate.

"People watch it and might maybe think we're used to this. But it just always feels like the first with this team, and I think that's because of the spirit.

"So I'm forever, forever grateful to everyone to be a part of it, to be a part of breaking a record like this. No team has done this before.

"It is unbelievable. It's unbelievable and to come back year-on-year, and whilst we have great performance, it is not easy to continue to deliver weekend in, weekend out.

"Seven time champs - that is something I am going to be able to tell my grandchildren one day."

After taking his ninth win from the opening 13 races, Hamilton has opened up an 85-point lead over Bottas in the standings and can now clinch his seventh world championship at the next race in Turkey.