This is Hamilton’s third Formula One world championship, making him only the second Briton to scoop all three Formula One drivers’ titles after Sir Jackie Stewart.
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Hamilton needed to beat his closest challenger, Ferarri’s Sebastian Vettel, by nine points and his Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg by two, and he did precisely that.
“But Rosberg ran wide on the damp Circuit of the Americas track on Lap 49 of the 56-lap race, briefly losing control and sliding wide off the track”.
10 – After winning in Austin, Hamilton has become the first driver to win 10 races in successive seasons.
F1 great Niki Lauda, himself a three-time champion, forecast that Hamilton will “get better and and win more”.
After feeling deeply emotional after the race, he told a news conference: “I’m so overwhelmed right now”. Thinking about how much my family sacrificed.
“I really do realise that whilst I get to enjoy driving a Formula One auto this is really a platform for me to inspire young people and I hope that if there is any inspiring from today it’s just that: never give up on your dreams, on your hopes and on your desires”.
Meanwhile, Rosberg accused Hamilton of being extremely aggressive and going one step too far at the start of the race.
In the most dramatic race of the season, Hamilton demonstrated the mental and physical fortitude that has stood him out from the rest this season to land another championship title in spectacular fashion.
The race went ahead after persistent heavy rain but afterwards there was champagne in the air as Hamilton sprayed the celebratory alcohol over his fans. Now I’m like “I don’t know where it’s going next”. To the team, thank you so much-I’m overdue a drink with the team!
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“As a kid, I just wanted to be world champion and so it’s kind of insane to think that me and Ayrton, in terms of championships, stand on the same line which is just the greatest”. It’s hard to believe I’m sat here as a three-time champion.
