Lewis Hamilton wins F1 championship 2015: 'It's a very humbling experience, especially to equal Ayrton Senna's three titles'

Hamilton was victorious at the US Grand Prix in Austin

Lewis Hamilton leaps from his car in celebration (Getty Images)

An emotional Lewis Hamilton paid tribute to his family after he clinched his third world title after winning the United States Grand Prix.

“It really is difficult to find the words,” Hamilton said as he tried to take in that he really had achieved his life’s dream. “I’m sitting here thinking about my first British Championship. My Dad and I drove home singing ‘We are the champions’ and it’s scary to think that I am now a three time world champion. I owe it all to my Dad and my family who sacrificed so much.

“It means so much for me to be here and to feel all the positive energy that I get from the fans. This is a platform to inspire young people never to give up on your dreams.

“I thought so many times that I had lost the race and Nico was really quick at one stage, but at no stage did I believe I couldn’t do it. But Nico drove a fantastic race.

“It’s a very humbling experience, especially to equal Ayrton Senna who meant so much to me and still does today.


 Hamilton enjoys his championship triumph
 (Getty Images)

“For any driver it there is no further you can go when your ultimate goal is to win everything you compete for, when you perform at your best, and when you do win the world championship it signifies your greatness and the greatness of the people around you.

“I was just grateful for the first title, and I am not the only one who has been achieving things in the family. Firstly my dad was coming from nowhere he didn’t want his kids to suffer the way he did. My younger brother Nic is one of the first disabled individuals to race. He wants to do it all on his own and he is inspiring young kids to exceed expectations Hopefully, I can be a mascot for him. It’s good to know the Hamilton name will be here past our own lives.


 Hamilton overtakes Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg
 (Getty Images)

“My aim was always to get the three titles that Ayrton had. He wasn’t from the same country but he was the guy who inspired me as a youngster. There was no one else that I wanted to equal or emulate. I think I have the baton for Ayrton now and I want to keep building and to see where I get to.”

Nico Rosberg was less happy than he’d looked immediately after the race when he spoke with the media, and the start of the race was one reason.

“Turn 1 for sure was very aggressive,” he said, of Hamilton’s start. “Extremely aggressive. We actually hit each other, or rather Lewis came into me.

“Obviously that’s not good. As for what happened on lap 48, that never happened to me ever, in testing or in racing. So I can’t explain it. It was unbelievable, and really, really tough to lose the lead like that, and the win.”

Sebastian Vettel drove a brilliant race from 14th place on the grid. He was seventh by the end of the opening lap, then gambled on a set of medium tyres after his fist pit stop to try and make it through to the finish. That came undone with the various safety car interventions.

“It was the right thing to do given where we were starting, and we had to take our chance and last as long as possible. Obviously when the safety car came out that was gone. I was doing the same pace as the guys in front, so it was a shame to lose out, but all three of us at stages of the race got lucky. I’m thinking a lot of the season and where we could have done better,” he said.

“We have a great car and have exceeded all expectations, but it doesn’t feel great when you cross the line and know you can’t fight for the world championship any more. But this is Lewis’s day and he deserves to win the championship.”