Hamilton savours his best moment

Sao Paulo, Nov. 13: Lewis Hamilton hailed his Mercedes team as legends on Monday and described his championship-clinching victory in Sunday’s Brazilian Grand Prix as the best moment in five triumphant seasons.

His dramatic success confirmed Mercedes’ recordequalling fifth consecutive double of drivers’ and teams’ championships.

It was his 10th victory this season, signalling that he has won 60 per cent of the team’s points, the 72nd of his career and his 50th in the 99 races held in the

V6 turbo hybrid era since

2014.

The 33-year-old Briton, who plans to celebrate with the team back at their Brackley base added: “It’s hard to contemplate what’s happened in these last six years. It’s been such an incredible journey and by no means has it been easy for anybody.”

In a show of emotional gratitude in the garage after Sunday’s victory, he told the race team: “These past six years have been epic and iconic. We are now legends. Just remember that. When you go home, when you look in the mirror, when you wake up, say ‘I’m a legend’. You’ve got to say that to yourself. ‘I’m a legend’.”

Hamilton has also become a legend of F1 with an error-free season providing the foundations for the team’s double success.

Technical director James Allison pin-pointed him as the key factor in Mercedes’ victory in both championships after a fiercelyfought duel with rivals Ferrari. “You’ve got to say that Lewis this year has just made the difference for us,” he said. — AFP