Hamilton became only the fifth person in history to win a fourth Formula One World title last weekend.
The Mexico Grand Prix did not pan out as expected. The simple permutation for Hamilton to clinch the Formula One World Championship last weekend was to finish fifth or higher.
The Brit however would go on to actually finish ninth, but with Sebastian Vettel finishing fourth, that was still enough to take the crown.
The title contenders were involved in a first lap incident, from pole position Vettel firstly damaged his front wing by hitting Max Verstappen, a few yards later he hit Hamilton puncturing his tyre.
That collision left both Vettel and Hamilton running 19th and 20th.
They came back through the field but in the context of the Championship it was irrelevant.
Following in the footsteps of Juan Manuel Fangio, Alain Prost, Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel, Hamilton became Britain’s first four time World Champion (2008, 2014, 2015, 2017).
All of his titles have been won in different ways, with one coming driving for McLaren in only his second season, whilst his following three have come for Mercedes, a move that he made under a great deal of criticism.
‘The way I’ve prepared this year is contrary to what people may think. Training on your own – no one can train on their own, that’s what people would say – travelling around the world and all these different things, you’re just doing it your own way and finding your own way.
‘A day like you have [Sunday] when you win the championship in front of so many people it just solidifies your belief in your yourself and your family’s belief in you and what they stand for. I’m proud of all my family and it’s crazy to think I’m continuing to stamp the Hamilton name in the history books. Beyond my time there will be kids that know the name and that’s probably what I’m most proud of.’ Hamilton told Sky Sports.
He continued: ‘I think every single win, every single pole has felt new and different in its own way, I’ve not got bored of it. It’s not felt similar to another one. Every lap is different.
‘Each championship has felt different in its own way, I guess because I’ve been in different place of my life, I’ve gone through different things.
‘This one does feel like one of the best and that’s with fighting another team. Ferrari is such an iconic team, Sebastian is a four-time world champion so if I was winning the championship against someone who doesn’t have a championship, it wouldn’t feel as great. You want to be compared against the guy who is the most decorated.’
Hamilton stamping his name into history
