Lewis Hamilton described himself as “humbled” after securing his fifth Formula 1 title at the Mexican Grand Prix and his fourth since 2014.
The Briton finished a somewhat distant fourth in Sunday’s race at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, but that was more than enough to have the chance to do so doughnuts in the stadium and celebrate with a fiesta for the second straight year in Mexico City.
It was an outcome that has been on the cards for several races after six wins in seven races between Hockenheim to Suzuka a stretch the man himself admitted allowed him to ease to the title,
“It wasn’t won here, it was won through a lot of hard work through many races,” he said, after describing it as a “strange feeling” after stepping out of his car.
“I’ve been with Mercedes since I was 13 so to complete this – [fellow five-time champion Juan Manuel] Fangio had done it with Mercedes – it’s an incredible feeling and very surreal at the moment.
“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for my family, and for all the hard work my Dad did. It’s a very humbling experience.”
Later to Sky Sports, Hamilton had, had a little more time to put his achievement into context but was still overcome with emotion.
“It’s hard to realise it at the moment, it’s something that I dreamed of – but never in a million years did I think I would be standing here today as a five-time world champion. I never knew that was going to happen,” he said.
“I’m just so grateful for everyone who helped me to be here. The guys who are here at the garage, the guys back at the factory have helped me raise the bar and lift this trophy, I couldn’t have done this without them.”
While some will argue the problems for Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari late summer played the biggest role in Lewis’ latest triumph, the 33-year-old spoke of his own personal delight at how he has performed.
“It’s definitely my best year and that’s the goal. When I won the championship last year, I was like, ‘how am I going to improve? How can I be fitter? How can I be more focused? How can I be a better all-round driver?’,” he explained.
“I’ve tried to be a better son, to be a better friend – just in all areas. I think this year I’ve been able to lift them all up, I’m not sure if that’s something to do with age, but I’m sure experience helps.
“I honestly feel like I’ve performed my best this year so I’m very, very happy with how it’s gone.”
