In his moment of triumph on Sunday, an emotional Lewis Hamilton reflected on loss, demons and the personal growth that led him to a sixth Formula One drivers’ championship.
As his Mercedes team celebrated, Hamilton’s comments after the race said as much about the man as the fierce competitiveness he showed on the track in trying to seal the championship with a victory at the US Grand Prix.
The win would elude him, ultimately going to teammate Valtteri Bottas, but only after Hamilton’s fading tyres saw him surrender the lead in the dying laps.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen took third at the Circuit of the Americas with Australian Daniel Ricciardo sixth, in one of his best race results for Renault this year.
Second place was still good enough for Hamilton to become the second Formula One driver after Michael Schumacher (seven) to win six world championships.
“Every year you go through a different rollercoaster ride of emotions to get to where you’re going,” Hamilton said.
“Each and every single one of us is struggling with something in life.
“I tried to show people that, from the outside, things always look great but it’s not always the case.
“And I am also struggling with lots of different things and battling certain demons and trying to make sure that I’m constantly growing as a person.”
Hamilton said it had been a real struggle to come to terms with the death of friend and triple world champion Niki Lauda, the team’s non-executive.
The dangers of the job also hit home with the death of French driver Anthoine Hubert in a high-speed crash during a Formula Two race at the Belgian Grand Prix.
“I would say this year that losing Niki, I didn’t think that was going to hit me as hard as it did,” Hamilton said.
“It really was upsetting and I miss him dearly today and I didn’t realise how much I loved the guy.
“Also we lost a young kid in Spa. Again, I saw it on the TV, I saw it happen.
“When something like that happens it can put lots of doubts in your mind and thinking, ‘OK, jeez, is it time to stop or shall I keep going?’ Because there’s lots of life afterwards.
“I still want to spend time with my family, I still want to have a family one day, all these different things.
“But I love doing what I do so much that I don’t think there’s a lot that can particularly stop me in that sense.”
Although Hamilton was unable to add to his 83 career wins, he has 150 podium places and Schumacher’s record of 91 victories will be in his sights next season.
