Top 5 Lewis Hamilton wins at Mercedes

Last Sunday at the Japanese Grand Prix was Lewis Hamilton's 50th race win at Mercedes six years after he agreed to join the team.

Midway through the 2012 championship, Hamilton shocked the F1 community by announcing his departure from boyhood team McLaren in order to join Mercedes the following season.

At the time many thought it was a career risk for the Briton as Hamilton was still winning races in a McLaren. But what a decision it proved to be as six years on the 33-year-old is very close to a fifth world championship.

And in those six years, McLaren have not won a single race since the 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix.

Hamilton could have still only had the one driver's title to his name if sticking with the Woking team.

To celebrate Hamilton's 50 Grand Prix victories at Mercedes, we have picked out his top 5 wins since joining the team in 2013.

#5 Hungarian Grand Prix 2013

The 2013 championship was reaching the halfway point as Sebastian Vettel was bidding for a fourth consecutive world championship at Red Bull.

The final race before the summer break was the Hungarian Grand Prix, a circuit that has favoured Hamilton throughout his career.

One thing that 2013 taught us was that Mercedes had the qualifying pace as Hamilton was in pole in Budapest, but the previous races showed they couldn't compete at the front.

However, that all changed on race day in beautiful Budapest as Hamilton won his first ever race in a Mercedes.

Of course, it would be the first of many at the silver arrows for Mr Hamilton.

Mercedes' championship challenge didn't improve that year after Hungary as Vettel would go on to win every race left on the calendar.

Dominance at its very best!

#4 Bahrain Grand Prix 2014

Now, 2014 was the birth of Mercedes' true dominance in Formula One.

The opening two races in Australia and Malaysia were won by Nico Rosberg and Hamilton as we started to understand why the Brit moved from McLaren.

The 2014 Bahrain Grand Prix was the third race on the calendar and it was one dramatic race.

This would see the start of Hamilton and Rosberg's rivalry as the German was not going to accept the number two role.

2014 would also be the first time that the Bahrain International Circuit would take place under the lights.

Throughout the night race, we saw many moments of Hamilton overtaking Rosberg and the other way round - it was a night of true racing.

It left many fans on the edge of their seats.

None of the other teams could come close to the two silver arrows.

Hamilton would win the race but moments after parking his car and leaving the cockpit, Rosberg ran over to Hamilton as both drivers had a bit of a push and a shovel which at the time saw both teammates having a laugh.

All before it got a little colder in the Mercedes garage.

#3 Singapore Grand Prix 2017

The moment Vettel gave away the championship in 2017

Hamilton's important win would guide him to a 4th world championship

The 2017 Singapore Grand Prix was one of the biggest wins in Lewis Hamilton's F1 career to date.

Before the race had even begun, Sebastian Vettel was only three points behind as the championship looked to be decided in the curtain closer in Abu Dhabi.

But those predictions went upside down when the 2017 championship moved to Singapore at the Marina Bay Circuit - a street race that both Hamilton and Vettel had won multiple times in the past.

Qualifying saw Vettel take pole position while Hamilton was only 5th fastest making Sunday's race day a big task for the Mercedes man.

Just minutes before lights out, rain had struck which is a rare sight in the history of the Singapore Grand Prix.

Despite the conditions, it was still thumbs up from Charlie Whiting and co.

Hamilton's wish came true as Vettel collided with team-mate Kimi Raikkonen at the starting line along with Max Verstappen.

Vettel retired on the opening lap while Hamilton took the advantage to jump up four places and lead the race and go onto win in Singapore.

The win placed Hamilton 28 points ahead of Vettel and would stay at the top of the championship to win a fourth driver's title.

#2 United States Grand Prix 2015

The second season into Mercedes' pure dominance saw Hamilton and Rosberg both battle for the driver's title.

At this point, both the Brit and the German were seen as enemies when out on the race track.

Rosberg was bidding to achieve his first world championship win by gaining revenge over his teammate.

But at the 2015 United States Grand Prix, Rosberg's championship chances were hanging by a thread.

Rosberg was 73 points behind Hamilton going into the race at the Circuit of the Americas as there were only four races left.

Vettel, at the time, was second in the driver's championship by being 66 points behind Hamilton but would eventually be taken over by Rosberg.

All Hamilton had to do to get his hands on a third driver's title was gather nine more points than Vettel and two more than Rosberg at the Grand Prix.

Hamilton would go on to win the race as Rosberg finished runners-up and Vettel completing the podium in third.

It was a frustrating result for Rosberg as he showed in the driver's lounge when throwing his 2nd place podium cap towards Hamilton.

#1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2014

Hamilton's first world championship at Mercedes

The 2014 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has probably got to go down as Hamilton's most memorable race in a Mercedes.

Hamilton's victory at the Yas Marina Circuit on November 23, 2014 was his first driver's championship since winning his very first one in 2008 at McLaren, but it was also his first world championship glory at the silver arrows.

The 2014 championship would be decided in the final race in Abu Dhabi between Hamilton and Rosberg.

The first of two final day championship deciders between the two.

It was a good start for Rosberg on the Saturday by grabbing pole position in qualifying, Hamilton was right behind him in second position.

But all that mattered was the result on race day.

The points system for the first and last time would see the points doubled for the final race so 25 would instead be 50 if you finished the race in first. An idea that many disagreed with.

Hamilton didn't let qualifying get to him as he overtook Rosberg on the opening corner and would prove to have no trouble with his team mate later on, as the German would have problems with his car to end up finishing outside the points in 14th.

A memorable night for Lewis Hamilton.

What is your favourite Lewis Hamilton win at Mercedes? Comment yours below...

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