Lewis Hamilton equalled Michael Schumacher's record of 91 Formula One wins on Sunday when he guided his Mercedes to a narrow, if measured, victory at a frantic Eifel Grand Prix. Taking full advantage of team-mate and pole-sitter Valtteri Bottas' early retirement with engine problems, the runaway series leader and six-time champion drove a well-judged race to claim his seventh victory from 11 contests this year. "What a result," he said on the Mercedes team radio after taking the chequered flag clear of Max Verstappen for Red Bull with Renault's Daniel Ricciardo in third. Schumacher's 21-year-old son Mick, a rising star and leader of the F2 series, presented Hamilton with a red helmet from his father's career collection. "Congratulations on a great achievement," said Schumacher junior.

"It's such an honour," said a surprised Hamilton as many of the 20,000 fans scattered around the circuit gave the Englishman a standing ovation. "Thank you, I don't know what to say. "When you grow up watching someone that you idolise as a driver, week in and week out, year on year, and to see his dominance, I didn't imagine that I would ever be here. It's an incredible honour." Bottas' bad luck handed Hamilton his chance and almost certainly ended his own title bid as the Briton moved 69 points clear in the drivers' championship. Ricciardo's podium success meant that he had won a bet with Renault team boss Cyril Abiteboul, requiring the Frenchman to take a tattoo prescribed by the Australian. Sergio Perez finished fourth for Racing Point ahead of Carlos Sainz of McLaren, Pierre Gasly of Alpha Tauri, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and 'super-sub' Nico Hulkenberg of Racing Point.