Hamilton wins Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, becomes double world champion

Yas Marina, 23 Nov 2014: British driver Lewis Hamilton wins the season-ending Etihad Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in a Mercedes to win the Forumala One World Championship drivers’ title and becomes a double world champion under lights on Sunday.

Lewis does a donut and celebrates the victory lap with the Union flag and waves to the crowd after winning his 33rd Grand Prix. He won 11 races this season and consigned the ridiculous double points rule to history. He became the first non-German driver after Michael Schumacher (2002 and 2004) and Sebastian Vettel (2011, 2013) to win 11 races in a season. He also became the fourth British driver to win more than one drivers’ championship in F1.

Hamilton who started on P2 behind teammate Nico Rosberg jumped into the lead with a stunning get away at the lights and controlled the race thereafter. He had a scare midway but soon recovered the lead from Massa after a pit stop and with Nico Rosberg losing pace with the failure of hybrid system, towards the end, and finishing out of points in 13th place, it was a cake walk for the Briton.

As Martin Brundle interviews the drivers on the podium and says, The final word goes to Lewis Hamilton. What happens now? “I don’t know what will happen,” he says. “This is the greatest day of my life and that’s due to people around me.

“2008 was special but the feeling I have now is above and beyond. It’s the greatest feeling I’ve ever had. Thanks so much everyone.”

Hamilton continues on the podium:

“I’ve been lost for words but I want to thank the fans,” he says trying to control his emotions.“ It’s made such a difference. And to my family: I love you guys. And to my team thank you. It feels even more than the first time.

“It was a good start, probably the best start I’d ever had. Going into the race I had a couple of different options. If it was ahead I knew I had to race. Qualifying wasn’t perfect but we got it right for the race.

“Nico put on an incredible fight throughout the year. We met in 1997 and always thought we would be competing together. He was graceful enough to come up to congratulate me. He just came into the room, very professional and he said: ‘you drove really well.’ And the same for him.” And he did not forget to thank the God before he concluded the final podium ceremony of the season.

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