The world of auto racing has another seven time champion!

After winning the Turkish Grand Prix for career win number 94, Lewis Hamilton clinched his seventh Formula One championship title; tying him with F1 great Michael Schumacher.

When the race started Hamilton needed only to finish in front of team mate Valtteri Bottas.  Bottas finished the race in 14th.

After starting in sixth place, Hamilton went on to win his fourth race in a row and his tenth of the season.

Race car drivers are seen as tough guys that can weather the storm when it comes to surviving crashes…and the finish line.

But they are not afraid to show their emotions either, and Hamilton had the tears flowing as he thanked his team.  An emotional Hamilton spoke at a news conference saying, “all these emotions were running through me and I was trying to stop it.  I was thinking about my whole career, from when I was five when I drove in a go-kart, from when we won the British championship, driving home with my dad and singing ‘We Are The Champions’ and dreaming of being here.”  He added, “it really hit me and I just burst into tears. I couldn’t get out of the car because I just couldn’t believe it.  I didn’t want the visor to come up and people to see tears flowing, because I had always said I would never let you see me cry. I remember watching drivers in the past crying and I was like ‘I’m not going to do that.’ But it was too much.  I’m definitely a bit lost for words,” he said, thanking his family. “I dreamed of this as a kid. This is way, way beyond our dreams.”

In 2013, Hamilton took over the driving duties at Mercedes after the retirement of Schumacher.  Prior to driving for Mercedes, he drove for McLaren where he earned the championship in 2008.

Dreaming of being a champion since he was very small; Hamilton said, “dream the impossible.  You have got to chase it and never give up.  That’s for all the kids out there who dream the impossible. You can do it.  Hamilton continued, “I know I often I say it is beyond wildest dreams but my whole life secretly I have dreamt as high as this.  It felt so far-fetched. I remember watching Michael win those world championships. To get one or two or even three is so hard.  Seven is unimaginable. There is no end to what we can do together, me and this team.”