Lewis Hamilton believes he can now leave McLaren after 'ultimate high' of US Grand Prix victory

Hamilton is joining Mercedes on a £45million, three-year contract

Austin

Lewis Hamilton believes he can now leave McLaren after achieving his “ultimate high” regardless of what unfolds in Brazil on Sunday.

The victory Hamilton has craved since announcing his departure at the end of September on a £45million, three-year contract with Mercedes finally, and deservedly, came his way in the United States yesterday.

Niggly issues in Japan and Korea undermined his performance in both races, and although producing a strong drive in India for fourth, he suffered heartbreak in Abu Dhabi when retiring whilst leading.

That was the second time this season that had happened for Hamilton, with the previous instance in Singapore a few days before he stunned Formula One by deciding to join a team with one win in three years.

After what unfolded at the Yas Marina circuit, it appeared as if the 27-year-old would not be granted his one last wish, not in light of Sebastian Vettel's resurgence.

But far from flying off into the distance at the Circuit of The Americas after dominating every practice session and topping the times in every qualifying period, Vettel found himself hounded by Hamilton.

On lap 42 Hamilton conjured the move he had been striving for over the previous few laps, coming within inches of a collision, but making his manoeuvre stick before sealing his 21st career victory, all of which have been with McLaren.

It allowed the team to don the now famous rocket-red tops that make an appearance when one of their drivers takes the chequered flag - and that is good enough for Hamilton to sign off with.

Speaking to Press Association Sport, Hamilton said: "It's what I've been working for, and we would have had a lot more if we hadn't have had some of the problems we have had.

"But this win makes all those disappear. It allows us to move forward and smile, enjoy and appreciate how hard everyone has worked.

"It would be nice to be battling for the championship, but that's not the way it is, so I just have to be grateful for where I am and what we have achieved here.

"I believe I stamped my mark and showed I have the status and drive the others do, even though I'm not competing for the championship.

"I've been driving my best all year, and I've been getting stronger and stronger throughout, and for me this is my strongest race of the year.

"I loved it, to be able to push that much and not make mistakes, and to hunt him (Vettel) down and see him mistakes whilst applying the pressure was a great feeling."

As far as Hamilton is concerned, he can say his farewells with his head up, adding: "This is the ultimate high.

"I'm not going into the last race saying we can get higher than this because this is what I've been talking about, getting that last win.

"Naturally, I hope we can compete and we've a chance of winning in Brazil, but in Austin the right circumstances and the right things happened at the right times to enable me to do that.

"Regardless of what happens I'm ending on a high because I won this race and the guys were able to wear their rocket red shirts."

For boss Martin Whitmarsh, along with a smile there was relief etched all over his face that his team had delivered for Hamilton after so much recent pain.

Pit-stop blunders, other errors and rare unreliability of late have ensured McLaren will end the year trophyless for a fourth consecutive season since he took charge, so Hamilton's win was most welcome.

"We have underperformed for the last three or four races, and at a race team like this you start to worry about those things a little, but Lewis did a fantastic job," said Whitmarsh.

"With one race to go it makes you think we can go there and win that as well, which would be compensation for some of the disappointments we have had this year.

"For now this win is emotional, although we're trying not to be.

"I told Lewis weeks ago we would have the emotion after Brazil, and we would focus on doing the best job we can.

"He should have won two weeks ago, and in Singapore as well, and I felt sorry for him and for the team.

"But we've had some amazing highs together, and I don't want to make it easy for him to leave this team."

PA

Independent Comment
blog comments powered by Disqus
Caption competition
Caption competition
News in pictures
World news in pictures
Sport blogs

iBet: A tight game between Northampton and Bradford

A tight game could be in prospect here. Northampton have been keeping things very tight of late and ...

by Gareth Purnell

On The Road at the Giro d’Italia: Feeling ill and racing in the rain must be pretty grim

I can’t ever watch games of football or rugby without wistfully wondering what it must be like to be...

by Martin Ayres

PSG and the French league must be more proactive in dealing with hooliganism

Since PSG’s exit to Barcelona in the Uefa Champions League quarter-final in April, PSG have been sur...

by Matthew Riding

       
Career Services

Day In a Page

The price of pacifism: Refusing to go to war is finally being recognised as a brave act

The price of pacifism

From the Second World War refusenik to the 19-year-old Israeli, Holly Williams talks to five people who risked shame and suffering to take a stand as conscientious objector.
'It was mass hysteria': Jason Isaacs on groupies, theatre bores and snogging James Bond

Jason Isaacs: Groupies, theatre bores and James Bond

To millions, Jason Isaacs is one of Harry Potter's arch enemies – but his wife prefers him as a Scottish TV detective.
Notes from a small island: Is Sealand an independent 'micronation' or an illegal fortress?

Sealand: 'Micronation' or illegal fortress?

Thomas Hodgkinson spent a week at the tiny platform off the Suffolk coast to find out.
Not a bad bone: Mark Hix cooks with cutlets and ribs

Mark Hix cooks with cutlets and ribs

If you ignore cutlets and ribs, you'll risk missing out on some delicious and easy meals, says our chef.
The experts' guide to summer: From getting fit for the beach to recreating that Olympic buzz

The experts' guide to summer

From getting fit for the beach to recreating that Olympic buzz
Sex, drugs and fast cars: The legend of James Hunt has set Hollywood hearts racing

Legend of James Hunt has set Hollywood hearts racing

Early glimpses of Ron Howard's film Rush suggest it will portray Hunt as a high-living lothario, with an insatiable appetite for partying.
Macklemore: 'I don't have moderation when using drugs and alcohol. It was hurting my life'

Macklemore: 'I don't have moderation'

The next Vanilla Ice or the next Eminem? Macklemore doesn't have a record contract – but he does have the UK's biggest-selling single of the year.
Don't be shy: Bill Granger's Sri Lankan recipes

Don't be shy: Bill Granger's Sri Lankan recipes

Sri Lankan cuisine is light, sunny, wonderfully spiced – and so easy to cook from scratch. Just as soon as you've broken into the coconut, that is.
Sir James Dyson’s latest project: Cleaning up hospitals

Sir James Dyson’s latest project: Cleaning up hospitals

Doctors are hailing the revamp of a Bath neonatal unit, where babies sleep more and feed better, as the model for patient care
One man returns to Argentina's town that drowned

One man returns to Argentina's town that drowned

Epecuen was submerged under 10 metres of water in 1985. Now the floods have gone – and 83-year-old Pablo Novak has moved back in
The real thing? Historian publishes Coca Cola's 'secret formula'

The real thing?

Historian publishes Coca Cola's 'secret formula'
Gordon Ramsey's worst nightmare: A restaurant he cannot save

Gordon Ramsay's worst nightmare: A restaurant he cannot save

The pugnacious chef finally met a shambolic restaurant he couldn't save. John Walsh on when TV makover refuseniks fight back
Join Ryanair! See the world! But we're only paying you for nine months a year

Join Ryanair! See the world! But we're only paying you for nine months a year

Glamorous myth of the flight attendant lifestyle undermined by angry employee's claims of 'exploitation'
Braising saddles: Did the recent furore scupper sales of horse meat? Neigh, far from it!

Braising saddles: How to cook horse meat

Did the recent furore scupper sales of horse meat? Neigh, far from it! Will Coldwell hoofs it to the kitchen.
Why bitters are back on the bar: A few little drops pack a big punch in cocktails

Why bitters are back on the bar

A few little drops pack a big punch in cocktails. No wonder we're learning to love them again...