‘Driving F1 car is best feeling in world’
LEWIS HAMILTON won the US Grand Prix to put himself within a week of clinching a fourth world championship. The Briton beat Sebastian Vettel into second place to take a 66-point lead with 75 on offer at the closing three races. The next round in Mexico on Sunday is likely to mark the end of the contest. Hamilton said: ‘I think this track is my favourite. It’s a dream job. ‘I know many of you would love to drive a Formula One car and I can tell you right now — it’s the greatest experience and feeling in the world.’ Hamilton was interviewed after his ninth win of the season by Usain Bolt, guest of honour at a glitzy race also attended by former American president Bill Clinton. ‘Bro, you’ve got to teach me to do the Bolt,’ Hamilton urged his new friend Usain before they struck his signature pose on the podium to huge cheers. Hamilton started on pole but lost out at the first corner to Vettel and then had to win the leading place back. The Brit expressed his surprise that Vettel ‘did not defend more vigorously’. Vettel said: ‘It was starting to look good. We got past Lewis but then realised we could not match his pace today. ‘Towards the end we decided to pit again, so the last laps were especially exciting but overall it was not the result we wanted.’ Max Verstappen was furious after being thrown down a place, from third to fourth, for running off the track as he passed Kimi Raikkonen late on. ‘We had a great race but with these stupid decisions you really kill the sport,’ said Verstappen.