Lewis Hamilton recalls journey to the top of the world and fourth world title as he eyes a fifth

Hamilton made it a fourth title on Sunday in Mexico but is already dreaming about a fifth

Lewis Hamilton is on top of the world after a fourth title (Getty)

“It’s been a long journey with all you guys these past 11 years, and I really appreciate the support from all of you,” Lewis Hamilton said as he spoke with the media on Sunday evening, looking elated, tired, a little bemused, but with his distinctive laugh never far away.

How else would you feel after winning your fourth world championship?

“It’s very difficult to come from a race, especially one which you haven’t won, and then be surrounded by so many people,” he confessed. “There are just so many emotions.

“Mercedes signed me when I was 13 and they were running with McLaren, who will always have place in my heart. I remember meeting Ron when I was 10 and telling him I wanted to drive his car, and wherever he is today I hope he knows how grateful I am for that.

“When I moved to this team in 2013 a lot people said I was wrong, but I knew I was 100 percent right in my heart. It’s great to see how this team have grown, with great bosses and all those guys in Brackley and Brixworth. You go there and you see what happening all these creative minds. You see these beautiful bits of equipment coming together in December and January and know that you are ne of only two people who are going to go out and test them… it’s a fantastic feeling.

“Right now, I’m thinking here I am, having grown up in Stevenage hoping one day to be in F1... dreaming big is something we should all do. And I can tell you, four titles definitely feels a lot better than three.”

He remembered being a kid in the boxing ring, and getting a beating that made him think twice about going out for the next round. But that was where he learned never to give in.


 Hamilton made it four world titles in Mexico on Sunday 
 (Getty)

“Definitely in life, in the heat of the moment in difficult times and even in the good, you wonder how much more to push, whether to go left or right, to go in a different direction. But when you eventually get there is when you realise it was all worth it.

“Doing it your own way and finding that way solidifies your belief in yourself and your family’s belief in you. It’s crazy to think I am stamping the Hamilton name into the history books. That beyond my time there will be kids who know the name. I can’t even tell you what my Dad did to get me where I am today. And I try to deliver with both hands on the opportunity he gave me. Lots of kids around the world watch me for inspiration.

“I remember at school there were a couple of teachers who said I’d never amount to anything; I wonder where they are today and what they think?”

All season he’s avoided talking too much about a fourth title and what it would mean to him, yet he was soon admitting to dreaming of number five.

“Four is a great number,” he smirked, “but I want number five now. I will enjoy number four and you need to take it all one step at a time and embrace all the people you love, and not listen to people who tell you what to do. You need to find you centre and your core, because all of us are bright stars. All of us can do great things. And I hope that winning a fourth world championship, as a kid from Stevenage, will serve as an inspiration that you can do that from anywhere.”

He refused to discuss negatives such as the brush with Sebastian Vettel on the opening lap, beyond saying, “I was surprised to be hit, I left a lot of room, and I wondered why the dude I was fighting touched me. He’s a great four-time champion so that was unusual, but I don’t care about analysing it.”

And he saved his compliments for his old foe, Fernando Alonso, with whom he had a mammoth fight in the closing laps. Typically, Hamilton the racer peeked out.

“It was a great fight with Fernando. I was thinking all the time, this is one tight mofo, as we went back and forth, back and forth. Just wait until this guy gets a good engine behind him next year! I really enjoyed the battle I had with him and hope we get to have more of that.”

But when it came to how he felt as the statistically best Briton in history, he was a bit lost again.

“It’s too far out of reach, really not registering at the moment. That often happens with world championships, with all the energy from people around you, riding cloud nine, but I think of everything that’s happened in the past two years, of the thousand or so people who back me up and make the machine in which I can exploit my talents. And I’m just so grateful. Isn’t it cool to see someone take a risk and come out of it happy?”