I HAD A GREAT NIGHT...NOW I’D LOVE TO BE A KNIGHT!

Hamilton celebrates world title No 4

STILL wreathed in smiles at the end of one of the longest media sessions of his career, Lewis Hamilton turned his attention straight to the future, to new ambitions and his enhanced status in British society.

In the hours before he left the scene of his fourth Formula One world championship success for his private jet and a night of partying in Miami, Hamilton first welcomed the possibility of the trip he most cherishes — to Buckingham Palace.

He is odds on to receive a knighthood in the New Year’s Honours, and if that does not happen so soon, there is the even stronger likelihood of an upgrade on his MBE.

‘I’ve missed the Queen since I had lunch with her that time at the Palace,’ said Hamilton, whose quadruple put him one ahead of a track knight, Sir Jackie Stewart. ‘I’m always ready to go back. It would be the greatest honour.

‘ So many people who have received awards have done wonderful things. I’m just trying to represent England in the best way I can. If at some stage that is recognised, I would be incredibly honoured.’

Putting his tongue slightly in his cheek, he added: ‘If I was Sir Lewis, I would enforce it. With all friends, everyone. “Excuse me,

Sir”. I would relish it. Why not use it in all its beauty?’

But the majority of his thoughts focused on those things he can at least partly control, and extending the high summer of his career long enough to beat Michael Schumacher’s Everest of records — namely seven titles and 91 victories — is clearly in his mind.

A new £120million contract at Mercedes, taking him from aged 32 to 35 or 36, will give him a fighting chance of accomplishing a feat many believed to be virtually beyond reach. Hamilton still needs 30 more race wins to go ahead of the great German, despite having won 40 times since joining Mercedes in 2013.

‘I could do the easy thing like Nico ( Rosberg, the 2016 champion) did, which is just stop and, in my case, retreat with these four titles. But there’s more in me. There will be more challenges and harder times ahead, but I like that, I love that, that’s what keeps me going.

‘We all know how exceptional Michael was and his records have lasted for so long. There’s one particular record (race victories) that is going to be very hard for anyone to catch. It takes a lot of sacrifices, but I’ll continue to race while I love it.

‘ There’s a lot of life to live beyond 40, so there’s going to be a point at which I’ve had enough. I’ve already been blessed and had such a wonderful time here in F1 these 10 years. I’m going to continue, while I’m at my best, and I want to go out on top.’

Part of Hamilton’s champion- ship-clinching race was taken up with his suspicion that Sebastian Vettel deliberately drove his Ferrari into him on the first lap in a vain attempt to cause the Briton’s retirement, giving himself a chance of taking the contest into the final two rounds of the season.

But, with the title secured after a strong drive from the back to finish ninth, Hamilton, while still wondering whether his then rival was clumsy or villainous, wanted to banish such negative musings. Time had moved on.

Just as it has in the personnel who will form his principal opposition in the coming years. Vettel will still be there. But the new threat on the grid is Sunday’s race winner — and a crushing one at that — Max Verstappen, the 20-year-old Red Bull prodigy.

‘I absolutely look forward to his challenge,’ said Hamilton. ‘We all know he is an exceptional driver. They have a potential world champion in Max. He’s only going to get stronger with age. There is a lot of raw talent, but he is young and he has a long way to go.

‘These wins, these experiences he is having, are only adding to his great potential.’

Hamilton will take a brief holiday, in the Caribbean and Peru, where he may hike up to Machu Picchu, before showing up in Sao Paulo next Wednesday for a Brazilian Grand Prix he has turned into laps of honour.

But he added: ‘I want to be better next year. Formula One doesn’t sleep. There is always someone waiting to take my position, so I have to raise my game to another level to stay ahead.

‘That’s my motivation for next year.’