United States Grand Prix – Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton has won the World Championship for the sixth time in his career by finishing second in Austin.
Overwhelmed with emotion afterwards, a beaming Hamilton said: “[It’s] overwhelming if I am really honest.”
“It was such tough race today. Yesterday was a really difficult day for us. Valtteri did a fantastic job. Huge congratulations to him.”
“Today I just really want to recover and deliver the one two for the team. I didn’t think the one stop was going to be possible. I worked as hard as I could.I don’t know, I just feel so much emotions.”
“I have my whole team here, everyone back at the factory, my mom and my dad.” Hamilton continued. “My step mum and my step dad are here. My uncle George and Aunt from Trinidad and all the family back home. It is an honour to be up here with those greats. My dad told me when I was like 6 / 7 years old never to give up. Thats part of my family motto.”
“I was pushing as hard as I could. I was hopeful I might be able to win here today but I didn’t have it in the tyres unfortunately.”
Asked about whether he has his eye set on matching Michael Schumacher’s record seven World Championships next year, Hamilton said: “I don’t know about championships. As an athlete, I feel fresh as can be right now. I am ready for the next race. These next races we won’t let up, we’ll keep pushing. I just got to say big thank you to all the team in Malaysia and around the world. Everyone thats come out here this weekend to make this event what it is and also for the Brits and people with the UK flags supporting me this weekend. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
His father Anthony Hamilton said that the circumstances of the race showed that Hamilton was still racing just to win the race, rather than sitting back and letting the title fall into his lap.
“Every time we discuss things, it’s all about doing the best you can at the next race.” said Lewis’ father. “Because you are only as good as your last race to a degree. The focus is always the win if you possibly can. When opportunities like this come around to win the world championship, you have to think about it a little bit more. It didn’t look like he was thinking too much about it out there this time! Looks like he still wanted to win the race, and that’s the way he is.”
“I am sure he was managing his tyres as best as he possibly could till Valtteri got within about 2 / 3 seconds and then he pushed but not enough. We’ve come back from 5th to 2nd and he won the championship as well so very happy.”
“He has pulled together a really good team of friends over the last few years. Today all the family are here as well. Its been a good year for him.”
