Merc from ‘sitting ducks’ to top of world
SAO PAULO: Lewis Hamilton and his Mercedes team swapped tributes on Sunday after the five-time champion’s Brazilian Grand Prix victory sealed another F1 ‘double’ and their fifth consecutive constructors title.
The 33-year-old Briton, who profited from a collision between then-race leader Max Verstappen of Red Bull and back-maker Esteban Ocon of Force India, revelled in the post-race celebrations.
“These guys have worked so hard over the past six years,” he said. “It’s been an incredible journey. This is what we’ve worked for — every single day.
“I’ve always said it’s such an honour to drive for them. We were a sitting duck at one stage.
“We were having problems with the engine. I just want to thank everyone. The team give me the tools and I do the best I can.
“It was incredible to have the spirit of a racer, that I’ve had since I was five years old, and I never lose that. I had that fight like I was a kid today.”
Hamilton’s race engineer Pete Bonnington said: “It’s been the best championship yet. It’s been fantastic given how competitive it’s been. It’s been an awesome year.
“Lewis has driven perfectly. He always wants to win.”
Hamilton, in second place on the track, had a perfect view of the 44th lap clash that saw Verstappen spin out of the lead after colliding with Ocon’s Force India.
“It was a bit of a surprise,” he laughed. “I came through with these two guys facing me on either side and I thought ‘hey, this is nice.’
“Then I was trying to be perfect on every lap.”
Dutch driver Verstappen was accused of trying to punch French rival Ocon after the controversial clash.
Verstappen was seen on TV pushing Ocon three times and accused of threatening to hit him, after the pair had collided on track.
The livid Dutchman, 21, had earlier said he did not see the Frenchman in the paddock after the race, but made no effort to avoid him in the drivers’ weighing room where he walked straight at him.
“We were at the scales room,” said Ocon. “He wanted to punch me. He pushed me and he was wanting to be violent. It was not professional.”
Ocon added that his rivalry with Verstappen “goes back a few years” and said he “has always been the same”.
“I was behind Max for two laps,” Ocon told Sky Sports. “On the first lap, I was a lot faster and, on the second lap, I was a lot faster. The rules say you are allowed to un-lap yourself so that’s what I did.
“I’m used to the fights with Max. He’s always been the same. It goes back a few years.”
Verstappen swore so much on team radio that his comments bleeped out after he described him as an “idiot”.
Ocon was given a 10-second stop-go penalty by the race stewards for causing the collision.
“I hope I cannot find him now in the paddock,” said a livid Verstappen. “I was taken out by an idiot.”