After a long season of battles with his teammate, Nico Rosberg, and his main competition, Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton claimed his third World Drivers’ Championship title at the United States Grand Prix.
With a 76 point lead over Vettel, it would be mathematically impossible for Hamilton to lose the title. He now joins the talents of Jack Brabham, Jackie Stewart, Niki Lauda, Nelson Piquet and Ayton Senna with three World Drivers’ Championship titles in their careers. At the age of 30 and with a contract to the best team on the grid, it is possible that Hamilton can clinch at least one more.
Hamilton has had another astonishing season after his 2014 World Drivers’ Championship title run. After 16 rounds, he has ten race victories and has finished on the podium for four of the other six races. With eleven poles and six fastest laps, Hamilton has greatly out-performed his German teammate.
Due to the stormy conditions in Texas this weekend, it was uncertain whether or not Hamilton could do what was required to seal the deal this weekend. Things were looking poor for Hamilton in the first portion of the race with the intermediate tyres, but when the team changed to slicks, he came alive. In the end, a mistake by Rosberg gave Hamilton the lead and victory. Sebastian Vettel put in a good effort to finish second and keep his hopes alive, but wasn’t able to get past Rosberg.
With three races still remaining in the season, that gives Hamilton plenty of work to do before he can finally enjoy his title outside of the race car.
