Hamilton: 'It was a horrible way to win the title!'

Lewis Hamilton has become the most successful British Formula 1 driver in the sport's history after clinching his fourth world championship. However, the landmark title didn't quite happen as Hamilton wanted it to.

Hamilton was involved in a collision with his title rival Sebastian Vettel through the opening corners of the Mexican Grand Prix. Both men were forced to pit at the end of the first lap - Hamilton with a puncture, Vettel with front wing damage.

Vettel worked his way back to finish the race in fourth. Hamilton didn't make such rapid progress but still finished in the points in ninth place. The net effect is that Hamilton now cannot be beaten in the standings.

"It was a horrible way to do it, to be honest!" he admitted after the race. "The feelings are so mixed right now.

"Today was the most unusual," he said of the race. "Being 40 seconds behind is horrible, it's like being on no man's land.

"You just have to kind of think forwards to the future. I had no idea what was going to happen with the championship if I was honest. I was just thinking about getting further up and catching and getting involved in the race."

"This is just such a difficult track if not the worst track to follow. Trying to get past people was just a disaster," he told Sky Sports F1. "I kept going, I kept coming back."

Hamilton didn't believe that he had pushed too hard and taken too many risks at the start.

"What can I do? I told you I wasn't going to go easy at turn 1," he said. "I don't think I was too aggressive or anything like that, I placed my car in the perfect position.

"I'm looking forward to seeing the replay, but I left a lot of space for the car behind."

• Hamilton crowned champion as Verstappen wins in Mexico

Hamilton was quick to praised the Mercedes team that had aken him to his fourth world title, and also thanked his fans for their support.

"A big thank you to all the guys back at Brixworth and all the Brackley guys," he said. "Thank you so much for all your hard work. Winning the constructors championship this year was already a huge feat. Helping me achieve this incredibly accomplishment, I'm so grateful.

"I've tried not to leave any stone unturned. That's really the philosophy the whole team has had. As a driver, really trying to always raise the bar.

"Big big thank you to all the fans," he continued. "Thank you for all your continuous support and your messages. You guys inspire me just as much as you sometimes say that I inspire you.

"Keep pushing, whatever you're going through in your life, don't ever give up.

"I hope that I stand as a testament to that," he explained. "There's been so many things thrown at me in my life and I keep going and I do that with the support of you guys, so thank you very much Team LH - we win and lose together."

As for what the future holds, Hamilton has already said he has no plans to 'do a Rosberg' and retire anytime soon. But whether he will equal Michael Schumacher's seven F1 titles is something he's not even begin to contemplate.

"I just kind of feel you should take it one at a time. I'm really happy with this fourth. I'm going to have to take some time to think about it.

"Just the other day I was reminiscing about growing up in Stevenage and watching TV and dreaming of one day being in Formula 1. Now here we are, 25 years later, whatever it is, and four-time world champion.

"I'm proud of the flag and everyone who represents it. I hope those who are watching are happy with this year's result, and I'll continue to rise it as high as I can."

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