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Formula 1: Ranking Lewis Hamilton’s 4 gift-wrapped victories of 2018

By Asher Fair

SAO PAULO, BRAZIL - NOVEMBER 11: Race winner Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP celebrates on the podium during the Formula One Grand Prix of Brazil at Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace on November 11, 2018 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
SAO PAULO, BRAZIL - NOVEMBER 11: Race winner Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP celebrates on the podium during the Formula One Grand Prix of Brazil at Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace on November 11, 2018 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) /
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BAKU, AZERBAIJAN – APRIL 29: Valtteri Bottas driving the (77) Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team Mercedes WO9 (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
BAKU, AZERBAIJAN – APRIL 29: Valtteri Bottas driving the (77) Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team Mercedes WO9 (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) /

#3 – Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Heading into lap 49 of the 51-lap Azerbaijan Grand Prix around the 20-turn, 6.003-kilometer (3.73-mile) Baku City Circuit in Baku, Azerbaijan, Lewis Hamilton had not yet led a lap of the race, which was the fourth race of the season.

In fact, Hamilton was never really much of a factor in this race at all, and he had not led any laps in any race since he led five laps of the season’s second race, the Bahrain Grand Prix.

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix victory appeared to be set to go to Hamilton’s teammate, Valtteri Bottas, who would have inherited the lead of the driver standings had he been able to win the race.

But Bottas ran over debris on the front straightaway as lap 49 began. This debris punctured his right rear tire, and it prevented him from continuing. He ended up being scored in 14th place.

Here is a video of this incident.

When this tire puncture occurred, Hamilton, who had worked his way up to second place after Sebastian Vettel made a way too aggressive attempt to pass Bottas during a restart that resulted in his locking up his tires and losing several positions, cruised by Bottas to take the lead. He proceeded to hp;d off Kimi Raikkonen to secure his first victory of the season and take the lead of the driver standings after leading only the race’s final three laps.

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