"No new targets" for Hamiltonposted in F126 | 10 | 2015
LEWIS HAMILTON HAS admitted he is entering an unknown stage of his career, having achieved his target of matching his hero Ayrton Senna's tally of three world titles.
Hamilton, past champion in 2008 and 2014, became the 10th driver in F1 history to win at least three championships after sealing the title with his victory in the USGP.
And the 30-year-old Englishman admitted that, at the moment, he does not have any other specific targets in mind.
"For me the target was to get the three that Ayrton had," Hamilton said. "He wasn't from the same country as me, but he was the guy who inspired me as a youngster.
"I don't know what is going to come next. There is no-one else I look to who I want to emulate.
"I feel like I've got the baton for myself and Ayrton, and will carry that on and see how far I can take it."
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And he admitted the crazy nature of the race at Austin made winning the championship emotionally draining.
"The last 10-15 laps were the tough ones," he said when asked how emotional the final lap was. "Those last laps, the world championship is right there, and I'm thinking 'am I going to get it?'
"Everything I have got from these years, everything I have built up, I was so close, I could smell it, so I was pushing.
"I'm just overwhelmed, it's difficult to find the words. It's crazy to think I'm a three-time Formula 1 World Champion.
"This one feels special: it tops last year as it's equaling Ayrton.
“I remember my first British championship when my Dad and I drove home singing we are the champions. At the time it was of Great Britain, and now it is crazy to think that I'm three-time Formula 1 world champion.
"I owe it all to my dad and to my family who supported me all these years and scarified so much for me to be here.
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“It has been a very humbling experience, especially to equal Ayrton Senna who meant so much to me and still does today. I feel very blessed.”
And Hamilton stressed he hopes to use his third world title to inspire a new generation of young drivers, much like Senna did to a young Hamilton. The Englishman spent time with local children in the build up to the US Grand Prix at the start of the week.
“All the positive energy I get from my fans who travel around the world to see me, I get messages and really do realise while I enjoy racing Formula 1 cars this is a platform for me to inspire young people," Hamilton explained.
"I hope if there is any inspiring from today that it is to never give up on your dreams and your hopes and desires. Just keep working on it.”
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Jim McGill