F1: Lewis Hamilton clinches sixth Formula 1 world championship title

Team OD Updated: November 05, 2019, 05:54 AM IST

A second-place finish at the 2019 United States Grand Prix helped Lewis Hamilton clinch his sixth Formula 1 world championship title. The Briton headed into the US GP needing just four points to win the title, putting an end to team-mate Valtteri Bottas' chances at the 2019 crown. Despite the fact that it was Bottas who took the win, Hamilton's second place gave him 18 points, enough to clinch the championship, his sixth in all, and his third in a row. Hamilton has won the F1 title in 2008, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018 and now 2019.

Lewis Hamilton celebrates winning his sixth F1 world championship title at COTA, USA

With six F1 titles under his belt, Hamilton is now just one world championship away from Michael Schumacher's record of seven titles. Hamilton has also surpassed Juan Manuel Fangio's five championship titles, which was a record that stood until Schumacher equalled his record in 2002, and subsequently broke that record in 2003.

Mercedes has also become the first Formula 1 team to have clinched both the drivers and constructors world championship titles six times consecutively.

Hamilton's sixth title, is also the second championship that he has won at the Circuit of the Americas, with his 2015 crown also coming to him at the same track.

Hamilton is also fast closing in on Schumacher's record of 91 wins, and is currently just eight away from the German's record, with 83 victories. He has already broken Schumacher's record of pole positions, with 87 poles to his name, while the German driver is second now with 68 poles.

Speaking after his championship win, Hamilton said, "It's hard to explain what I'm feeling right now, to be honest. Cloud nine doesn't even get close, it's somewhere far above that. It's been the hardest year I can remember; it's been so challenging, going through the ups and downs, so right now I'm just so full of emotion, it's overwhelming."

He also paid homage to Mercedes's former non-executive chairman, the late Niki Lauda, saying, "And Niki, I miss him so much. Today, he'd have taken his cap off. I wouldn't have been able to do this without Niki, he's here with us in spirit." Lauda, who passed away earlier this year, had been instrumental in getting Hamilton to join the Mercedes team.