That’s F1 World Championship number four for Lewis Hamilton. The Mercedes driver recovered from an early crash with title-rival Sebastian Vettel in Mexico the weekend, but he managed to claw his way back through the field to take a ninth-place finish. While Vettel was more impressive in his comeback through the field, finishing fourth, the only way that the German was going to stop Hamilton from winning the championship on the day was earning second place.
Vettel count get on the podium, so Lewis Hamilton once more won the Championship on the back of winning twice as many races this season as Vettel has managed and by claiming eleven pole positions to the four put up by the German. Not at all bad considering that the Ferrari was pegged as being a better car this season than the Mercedes drive that Hamilton struggled with over the early stages of the season. Everything changed for Hamilton after the summer break, when he amped up his form and Vettel pretty much self-capitulated.
The fourth F1 Drivers Championship puts him level with greats Alain Prost and current rivals Sebastian Vettel. Only Juan Manuel Fangio (5) and Michael Schumacher (7) have claimed more F1 titles than Hamilton has managed now. With this year’s F1 title, Hamilton surpassed the three by Britain’s Jackie Stewart to become the most successful British driver in the sport. The question is, can he go and match or better Schumacher’s total?
Hamilton is only 32 and therefore he has a good few seasons of F1 left in him, Schumacher won his fourth title when he was 32 and went on to win three more. So there is plenty of time for Hamilton to catch up and he would need the minimum of four seasons of course. Being the World champion, he is always going to command one of the better drives in the sport as well so he has every chance.
Lewis Hamilton Specials
Jumping ahead to the 2018 F1 Season, Hamilton is priced up at 11/8 with Ladbrokes to go and win his fifth World Championship next season, with Vettel at 10/3. Also, there now can’t be ignored, the chance of Hamilton winning the Sports Personality of the Year award for the second time in his career. He won it back in 2014 and is an 11/2 second favourite with Ladbrokes to collect it again this year. It’s been some kind of a year for him, but will he be able to topple Anthony Johsua’s major breakthrough this year in the Boxing ring? At the price, Hamilton is well worth a flutter.
Some bookmakers have also put up a price of 4/1 on him to go and pick up a Knighthood in the New Year’s Honours list. He is already an MBE (in 2008 after his first F1 championship title) and could join Andy Murray who picked one up after winning Wimbledon for the second time in his career.