Formula One: ‘Achievement yet to sink in’

Hamilton recalls the sacrifices his father made

Lewis Hamilton, who clinched his second title on Sunday, celebrates with the Mercedes team.

Graham Hill would doubtlessly have done it differently.

Where James Hunt might have staggered dishevelled into the morning after the night before, probably clutching bottles in both hands on the way to bed, Lewis Hamilton celebrated his second Formula One title on Monday with bright eyes and a spring in his step.

A glass of watermelon juice, and a few sips of “some kind of Cognac thing”, was sufficient carousing for Great Britain’s first multiple champion since Jackie Stewart.

One of only four Britons, including the late Hill, to have won the title twice, Hamilton said his achievement had yet to sink in. “I feel fresh, I only had one drink last night, which is more than good enough for me,” the Mercedes driver told a breakfast news conference.

“It’s definitely an incredible feeling to wake up this morning feeling fresh in my surroundings and with all the different people who have been involved in my career over 21 years,” he enthused. “The sun is shining and I feel really blessed.”

Hamilton, winner of 11 races this season, recalled his early karting days, sitting by a gas heater drinking chicken soup from a flask, and the sacrifices his father had made.

“Then I popped out to the party, and (Mercedes motorsport head) Toto (Wolff) was all over the place at that point,” laughed Hamilton, Wolff sitting alongside with a pained expression.

Beaten teammate Nico Rosberg had tweeted after the race that “now it’s time to fight for the party world championship”. The German, elsewhere on Monday, seemed to have won the battle.

Hamilton was happy to let that one go at least.