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Tip of the hat good sir.

Thank you for this. I always hate it when people moan about a driver who wins "just because he has a good car".

It's not often that a driver wins the championship, despite not having the best car. I'd say Raikkonen in 2007, and then go back to Prost in 1986.

If you have the best car, you can be champ. If not, it will be bloody difficult and people will start saying you've lost it

"I don't go into a race to finish second," added Hamilton.

"Growing up, as a family we never had anything handed to us. We always had to grab it with both hands and push for it.

"Fortunately no one had any damage and Nico got into back the lead."

A mistake from Rosberg 10 laps from the end ultimately handed Hamilton victory, though the champion laughed he was "going to take him anyway".

"Somehow I was going to get past him in those 10 laps," Hamilton added. "I generally disagree with him."

Suggested to Hamilton he faced talks with Wolff and non-executive chairman Niki Lauda, the 30-year-old replied: "No need.

"Everyone has a right to their own opinion, but it doesn't matter because I won the race, so I feel pretty good about it."

Schumacher '94 and arguably '95. Senna '91. Potentially Button '09 (car was the best to start with, Red Bull was better at the end of the season).

The ego is back:



All well and good, except Toto has already said in more than one interview that the team believe Hamilton's move was too much, and that they will sit both drivers down for a chat...

Newly-crowned three-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has strongly refuted Nico Rosberg's claim he tried to force his Mercedes team-mate off the track in the United States Grand Prix.

Rosberg felt Hamilton's move into Turn 1 on the opening lap at Austin was "extremely aggressive" as the duo bumped wheels, which was "one step too far" according to the German.

The incident sparked memories of their clash in Belgium 14 months ago, and Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff confirmed talks are to take place in which the drivers will be reminded of their responsibilities.

Hamilton was adamant his actions were a consequence of the conditions at the time.

"I didn't try and push him hard, it wasn't intentional," said Hamilton.

"I've watched a replay, we were both on wets and the outside is always the grippier side, so Nico had the grippier line, but I was ahead so it was my line.

"We went in, I started to turn, but I understeered into him. He steered round and we touched.

"I don't feel like I was aggressive. At the end of the day I was on the inside so it was my line.

"Of course, there are always those comments [from Rosberg] that come up, but I would never intentionally do something like that to my team-mate."

Although Hamilton intimated after qualifying he would not take risks in the wet conditions amid the chance to seal the title, at no stage did he give any quarter in the battles he faced.

"I don't go into a race to finish second," added Hamilton.

"Growing up, as a family we never had anything handed to us. We always had to grab it with both hands and push for it.

"Fortunately no one had any damage and Nico got into back the lead."

A mistake from Rosberg 10 laps from the end ultimately handed Hamilton victory, though the champion laughed he was "going to take him anyway".

"Somehow I was going to get past him in those 10 laps," Hamilton added. "I generally disagree with him."

Suggested to Hamilton he faced talks with Wolff and non-executive chairman Niki Lauda, the 30-year-old replied: "No need.

"Everyone has a right to their own opinion, but it doesn't matter because I won the race, so I feel pretty good about it."

Asked about the Austin incident, Wolff said: "It's very hard. Lewis came on the radio and said it wasn't on purpose.

"I think it's something we are going to talk about in a couple of days, but this is the moment to celebrate a world champion who deserves to be world champion.

"Once the emotions have cooled down we will discuss."

I think 94 and 09 are a bit of both - The Benetton and Brawn were the class of the field to begin with, but Williams and Red Bull pulled it back towards the end.

I've not seen any interviews with Toto Wolff (thanks MSNBC for your quality coverage....) so can't comment on what he's said

Rosberg should be satisfied with this position, to become a Coulthard/Barrichello or gor for something else and be more like a Ralf Schumacher?

This is a great post full of good points, but the very first sentence holds it back from winning the thread. I don't think Lewis can match Vettel or hold a candle to Alonso when it comes to raw pace unless he has a perfect car under him. His drives in the sub-standard McLarens didn't really stand out like the latter pair have managed in poor cars.

Hamilton is definitely one the very best drivers of his generation, but I don't think he has ever pulled off a 'miraculous' drive like Senna in a Toleman, Lotus or McLaren Ford, or Alonso in 2012, or some of the drives Vettel has pulled out this year.

Lewis definitely knows how to win championships, but the only time he has ever really had to *work* for one was 2008. That year, he came within a whisker of losing it to Felipe Massa.

So I guess you guys are pretty stoked about the tumors, then