LEW’S BEST AND WORST
F1 Hammy seals historic title after smash MEXICAN GRAND PRIX
LEWIS HAMILTON was last night crowned Britain’s first four-times F1 world champion – despite his worst finish of the season in Mexico.
The 32-year-old eclipsed Sir Jackie Stewart’s three titles but only after an explosive openinglap collision with rival Sebastian Vettel saw him settle for ninth.
Hamilton’s Mercedes limped back to the pit lane with a rightrear puncture while the German stopped for repairs to his Ferrari’s broken front wing after the smash.
Vettel clambered through the field to cross the line in fourth but fell well short of the victory needed to deny Hamilton the title with two races to spare.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who also banged wheels with Vettel in a crazy start, pounced on the mayhem to win from Hamilton’s team-mate Valtteri Bottas while Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen completed the podium.
Hamilton said: “It doesn’t feel real. That was not the kind of race I wanted but I never gave up and that is what is important – what is in my heart – and that I kept going right to the end.
“I had a good start and don’t really know what happened in turn three. I gave him plenty of room and tried as hard as I could to come back.”
Hamilton crossed the line with his head in his hands before holding aloft a Union Jack as the Englishman savoured his title.
However, his hopes of finishing the race let alone a 10th victory of the season were almost over as he, Vettel and Verstappen charged at 220mph into the opening turn.
Verstappen made his move around the outside of Vettel at the second corner before they banged wheels. Vettel then clumsily tapped the back of Verstappen’s Red Bull before Hamilton roared around the outside of Vettel and the Ferrari driver connected with his right-rear rubber.
“Did he hit me deliberately?” Hamilton asked over the team radio. “Not sure, Lewis,” came the reply from race engineer Pete Bonnington.
But stewards took just seven minutes to make up their mind, opting to take no further action.
Vettel, who had led this year’s championship battle by 25 points in May, emerged from the pits 35 seconds behind Verstappen with Hamilton trailing his Red Bull by one minute. Despite Vettel reducing the points deficit to 56 with two races left Hamilton heads to Brazil with the title in the bag.
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said: “I hated every bit of that race. It was really bad and too long.
“The relief is huge. During the race you have mixed feelings – it’s bittersweet because you’re not where you should be. You could lose it and then it drags to Sao Paulo. It’s a big relief now.
“I saw Lewis in the back of the garage. I rarely hug half-naked, sweaty men but it was still a good feeling. It’s ultimate happiness.”
The Englishman joins Michael Schumacher, Juan Manuel Fangio, Alain Prost and Vettel as only the fifth driver with three-plus titles.
Hamilton said: “It was a horrible way to do it to be honest but what could I do? Still I rise. I kept going and I kept coming back.
“I remember growing up in Stevenage and one day dreaming of being in Formula One. Here we are 25 years later and I’m a four-times world champion.”
Asked if Hamilton is now on a par with him after matching his title tally, Vettel said: “If you can count then yes. I don’t fear him. I like racing with him but I would have liked a little bit more of that this year. Overall they were better.”