Britain’s driving superstar Lewis Hamilton clinched a hat-trick of world titles at the weekend, as he stormed to victory at the US Grand Prix. His success moved him level with some of the racing greats of yesteryear such as Sir Jackie Stewart and his own childhood hero, the late Brazilian Ayrton Senna. Another British racing great, Nigel Mansell has challenged him to seek further titles in the future and to aspire to match Michael Schumacher’s Formula One record haul of seven world titles.
Strong position going into the race
Hamilton was in prime position going into the American race, knowing that should he taste victory in Austin and arch rival Sebastian Vettel failed to claim second place, then the title would indeed be his.
As it was he benefitted from a late error by Nico Rosberg that allowed him to take the chequered flag in first position, with Rosberg holding on to second ahead of Vettel.
The thrilling victory was Hamilton’s tenth success of a stellar season. He was able to capitalise on Rosberg’s mistake during the vital final ten laps of the race, after the safety car had been employed. Prior to that the lead had fluctuated several times in the changing conditions in a dramatic Grand Prix.
Rosberg unhappy with Hamilton’s actions
There was further drama within the Mercedes’ camp in the aftermath of the race, with Rosberg throwing a cap at his team-mate Hamilton. During the action itself the pair’s cars had touched as they fought for the lead at the start of the Grand Prix, after claiming the front positions on the grid.
Hamilton’s line forced Rosberg to go wider than he wanted to, causing the exasperated German to drop back to fourth at the time behind the Red Bull cars.
Team boss Toto Wolff attempted to play down the significance of any spat between the two drivers, as Mercedes suggested that the intensity of the disagreement had been widely exaggerated.
Wolff claimed that it was perfectly natural for rivals to want to beat each other, even if they represented the same team. Had it been different teams involved in the incident, he believed that the media would have viewed it as “completely normal” (behaviour) and part of the spectacle that the fans had come to witness.
Mansell expects more Hamilton success
Mansell, the champion back in 1992, has described Britain’s latest winner as “untouchable”.
Still only 30-years-old, Hamilton seems destined to fight for the title over the next few years and could well fulfil the former champion’s prophecy in time. He told BBC Radio 5 live that in his view Hamilton will be the “hot favourite for the 2016 and even the 2017 championship” such is his current dominance in the sport.
Mansell’s views were echoed by BBC’s F1 commentator and former driver, David Coulthard who believes that Hamilton now deserves to be spoken of as one of the “true legends of his sport.”