I’m hunting you down, victorious Hamilton warns title rival Rosberg
LEWIS Hamilton warned Nico Rosberg he was “hunting” a fourth world title after describing his stunning triumph in Sunday’s wet and chaotic Brazilian Grand Prix as one of the easiest of his 52 career victories.
The 31-year-old Briton won in Brazil for the first time at the 10th attempt to complete a hat-trick of consecutive wins and keep alive his championship defence, taking the title battle right down to the wire at the final race, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on November 27.
“I’m hunting and all I can do is what I am doing,” said a delighted Hamilton, who trails his Mercedes teammate and championship rival Rosberg, who finished second on Sunday, by 12 points with one race remaining.
“The team have given me a great car and finally the reliability has been good. Right now, I am living in the moment.
“This was my dream when I was 5 or 6, watching Nelson [Piquet] and Ayrton [Senna] race. It was one of my easier races, I didn’t have any spins, any moments. It was pretty straightforward.”
His 52nd win from his 60th pole position lifted Hamilton one clear of four-time champion Alain Prost in the record books, leaving only one driver ahead of him with more wins – seven-time champion Michael Schumacher on 91.
Knowing he had to win to keep his title challenge alive, Hamilton – his helmet redesigned in tribute to Senna – drove with supreme concentration to claim a flawless victory in a dramatic race littered with accidents and stoppages amid the rainstorms.
“I was generally just chilling up front, and when it rains it is usually a good day for me,” Hamilton said. “A big thank you to my team. We are creating history. It is just incredible and I am so proud to be part of it.
“No mistakes, no dramas, no spins. It was interesting to hear how many spins there were behind me!”
Hamilton said he felt so comfortable during the incident-filled race that he was able to watch many of them on the big screens that relayed coverage to the fans around Sao Paulo’s Interlagos circuit.
That included Dutch teenager Max Verstappen’s charge from 16th, after a late pit stop for fresh wet-weather tyres, to third and a podium place.
‘Horrific conditions’
Verstappen’s race included one amazing half-spin when he saved his car from hitting the wall with a phenomenal demonstration of skill and bravery.
Rosberg, who at that time was third behind him and had a perfect view, said: “I arrived on the straight and saw him pointing 90 degrees towards the wall. I was thinking: ‘What the hell!’”
Rosberg, who survived a half-spin of his own, added: “It was on the limit today, with the rain and the decisions, but I think they got it right. It didn’t go my way. Lewis did a great job, it was very difficult conditions, but I can live with second place.”
Verstappen’s audacious and confident drive stunned his Red Bull team and his father Jos, who started 106 races in his own F1 career.
His Red Bull team chief Christian Horner called it “one of the best drives I’ve seen in F1”.
“He was absolutely fearless in pretty horrific conditions. It was an amazing drive and he deserved that podium and the reaction from the crowd,” he added.
Massa in tears after farewell
An emotional Felipe Massa received a rapturous reception from his home crowd and a guard of honour from rival teams after crashing out on the rain-soaked Interlagos track.
The retirement-bound Williams driver collided with the barriers when he aquaplaned off in the treacherous conditions on lap 46.
After climbing from his wrecked car unhurt, he walked back to the pit lane draped in a Brazilian flag and waved to the spectators in the packed main straight grandstand.
As the 35-year-old strolled towards the Williams garage, the Mercedes and Ferrari teams stepped out into the downpour to applaud him, the Italian outfit hugging their former driver in an outburst of affection.
One of the best-liked men in the paddock, Massa struggled to hold his emotions in check.
“It is so dif ficult to explain t he feeling,” t he Sao Paulo native said. “This is such a specia l place for me. It was not t he right result, but I will never forget t his day – a ll of t hese people will be in my heart for the rest of my life. It is a day t hat I will never forget.”