Hamilton takes it down to the wire in Singapore

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On this day in 2009, Lewis Hamilton clinched in Singapore his eleventh career win in F1.

It was an important victory for the then McLaren driver who ensured that the title fight would go down to the wire with three rounds to go.

However, while Jenson Button was struggling to recover the winning form he had displayed in the first half of the season with Brawn GP, the Briton still held a 15-point lead in the championship.

But Hamilton was quick to remind Button that two years earlier, he had led the Drivers' standings by 17 points only to lose the title to Kimi Raikkonen at the last race by a single point!

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.