An emotional Lewis Hamilton has described winning his second Formula One World Championship as ‘the greatest day of my life.’
Hamilton stormed to victory at the season finale in Abu Dhabi to beat Nico Rosberg, who failed to finish in points after suffering an engine problem, to win the championship.
Hamilton’s victory never looked in doubt, even holding off a late challenge from William’s Felipe Massa, to become a double world champion.
‘This is the greatest day of my life which is due to all the people around me,’ said Hamilton on the podium.
‘I won in 2008, but the feeling I have now is way, way past that and above and beyond.
‘I am grateful to God and my car.’
He added: ‘I am lost for words but one thing I want to say is a huge thank you to the fans, all the flags, the caps it made such a difference, and to my family, I love you guys, my mum back home and my team who did an incredible job. I would not be here without them today.
‘This means more than the first one and it feels like the first time. I feel so blessed.’
The 29-year-old celebrated his 11th victory of the year with a Union Jack before leaping out of his Mercedes and running to his family with Nicole planting a kiss on Hamilton’s crash helmet.
He then headed for the podium where he was briefly greeted by Rosberg. The pair shared an emotional embrace.
‘You know, Nico put on an incredible fight throughout the year,’ added Hamilton. ‘He was phenomenal.
‘We met in 1997 and we always said it would be amazing to fight for the F1 championship in the same team.
‘I am very sad to know his car was not quick enough so we could fight. He was graceful to come up to me just then, he was very professional and said you drove really well. All year long he drove really well, especially in qualifying so hats off to him.’