Celebrating Mercedes’ seventh straight Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship “feels like the first”, Lewis Hamilton says.
After Red Bull failed to score at Imola, the Brackley-based squad broke the record for most consecutive teams’ titles which they previously shared with Ferrari at six.
It was an achievement which didn’t really look in doubt once the advantage of Mercedes’ W11 was revealed back in Austria, but once confirmed, Hamilton paid tribute to those who made it possible.
“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,” he 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.
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“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.”
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff also couldn’t hide his pride at securing yet another championship.
“I am not so much into the number but this is something to be proud of really,” said the Austrian.
“We have a group that is just amazing together. We’ve stayed together, we’ve tried to push the benchmark to new levels and we’ve achieved that.
“It’s a super proud moment with all these guys and to be part of it.”
With the regulations remaining stable for 2021, Wolff sees little reason why Mercedes couldn’t make it an eighth next season.
“As long as we stay motivated and energised, and I can see that within these guys then I can see us push it furthermore,” he added.
“There will be competition, no doubt, next year with Max [Verstappen] and Honda tying to do a really good job towards the end of the season so we are looking forward to a new challenge.”