Paul Hembery, motorsport director, commented: “After several delays and washouts, we finally got the race we had been waiting for, where the wet conditions at the start added another fascinating tactical variable rather than just being an impediment to the action”. “I was struggling … sliding all over the place”. The world championship was right there.
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It is a platform for me to inspire young people: “never give up on your dreams and desires, just keep working on it”, an elated Hamilton said in the press conference. Rosberg without a flinch hurled the hat back at Hamilton. “Nico was really quick in stages, he pitted under the virtual safety vehicle but never for one second did I think I couldn’t do it”.
He added: “I don’t want to take anything away from Lewis, as he deserves the title”.
“I was in lead and then I was fourth”. The German was leading when he ran wide with seven laps to go, a mistake that allowed Hamilton to blast past and take the victory. Hamilton paid tribute also to Rosberg, who was in no mood for niceties, and then addressed the inevitable subject of Senna.
“This is the greatest moment of my life”, he told his Mercedes team on the pit radio after he had crossed the line to clinch his third win in four years in the United States. Head down, he crouched beside his vehicle for several seconds.
The final three races of the 2015 F1 championship are now irrelevant since Hamilton and Mercedes have already won the drivers and constructors championships respectively.
With vigor, Hamilton stood atop the winner’s podium and drank champagne from his new trophy.
On the podium, Hamilton was interviewed by singer Elton John and expressed his elation. But it ended with Hamilton being proclaimed the Formula 1 world champion for 2015.
It had been a stressful three days for all drivers.
Rain disrupted practices and canceled qualifying.
It is a different sensation for the Briton whose two previous triumphs have been determined at season finales in Abu Dhabi a year ago and in Brazil in 2008.
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It was an exciting climax to a race of fluctuating fortunes, lead changes and superb racing in changing conditions. Once the circuit dried, the powerful Mercedes engines were dominant. What an extraordinary race.
