A little Brit of history for Lewis Hamilton seals fourth F1 crown to become UK’s most decorated driver
MEXICO CITY — Lewis Hamilton grabbed the Union Jack for a “victory” lap, then draped it over his shoulders.
There was no way he was going to let it go.
Hamilton won his fourth Formula One championship on Sunday with a ninth-place finish at the Mexican Grand Prix, with his rare absence from the podium still good enough to win a title that makes him the most decorated British F1 driver in history.
“It’s been a long journey,” said Hamilton, who won his first championship in 2008.
“This week I’ve been reminiscing about where I came from, dreaming of being in Formula One.”
None of it came easy in a race where he had to overcome a first-lap tire puncture and scramble to finish off title rival Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari.
It was a bump from Vettel shortly after the start that made Hamilton’s push for glory more stressful than anyone at Mercedes expected.
The ninth-place finish was Hamilton’s worst of the season, but it also closed out Vettel with two races left.
“Not the race you wanted, but who cares?” Mercedes boss Toto Wolff radioed Hamilton after the race.
Not Hamilton, who passed Jackie Stewart for the most F1 titles won by a Briton.
The 32-year-old also joined Vettel and Alain Prost as fourtime winners. Only Germany’s Michael Schumacher (seven) and Argentina’s Juan Miguel Fangio (five) have won more.
Hamilton also passed his idol, Brazilian Aryton Senna, who won three titles before he was killed in a crash in 1994 and is still considered one of the most skilled drivers in F1 history.
“It’s crazy to think I continue to put the Hamilton stamp, the Hamilton name, in the history books. Beyond my time there will be kids that read my name,” said Hamilton, who was born and raised in the unassuming town of Stevenage, just north of London, by parents of modest means — unlike many of F1’s grid who come from privileged backgrounds.
“Being a four-time world champion, it’s so hard to describe,” he said. “I was going back to when my dad put me in a boxing ring when I was young. I was bleeding but I kept going.
“I remembered that moment today, decided that I was going to keep pushing.”
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen took the checkered flag in Mexico for his third career victory and second this season.
However, it was the gutsy performance of Vettel that really made things interesting. He needed to win the race with Hamilton lower than fifth, or be second with the Mercedes below ninth to keep the championship alive going in the next race in Brazil.
The German started in pole position and the beginning was a furious sprint through the long straight at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
Verstappen got the edge through the first turn and Hamilton made a move to get past Vettel, who drifted left. Lewis Hamilton, after winning his fourth F1 title VeLettel’s left front wing clipped Hamilton’s right rear tire, damaging both cars and forcing them to pit for repairs.
Verstappen disappeared into the distance as a seething Hamilton asked his team over the radio if Vettel made contact “on purpose”.
“Not sure, Lewis,” the team replied. Race stewards determined no investigation was necessary.
Both drivers made a mad scramble to get back toward the front, weaving through the traffic on the short track.
Hamilton was struggling and on lap 23 — so slow he was shown a blue flag, the humiliating order to let a faster car — Verstappen — go past him.
“I knew the car was good. I didn’t know it would be that good,” said Verstappen, who finished around 19 seconds ahead of second-placed Valtteri Bottas of Mercedes.
Vettel fought hard, but once into fourth place, he asked how far teammate Kimi Raikkonen was ahead in third place. Told 26 seconds, he said: “Mamma mia. I think that’s a bit too much.”
After their cars crossed the finish line, Vettel drove alongside Hamilton and applauded. Hamilton seemed momentarily overwhelmed, placing his helmet in his hands.
“He’s done a superb job all year round and deserves to win the title. So congratulations to him. It’s not about anyone else today, it’s about him. It’s his day,” Vettel said.
The finish allowed Hamilton to celebrate championships in four cities over his career, with Mexico City joining Sao Paolo, Brazil, in 2008, Abu Dhabi in 2014 and Austin, Texas, in 2015.
His Mercedes car has dominated the era of turbo-hybrid engines adopted in 2014. Of Hamilton’s 62 career victories, 40 have come over the past four years, a span of 77 races.
I was going back to when my dad put me in a boxing ring when I was young. I was bleeding but I kept going.”
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