{SPORTS} Formula 1: Lewis Hamilton Wins Second World Championship Title

Lewis Hamilton yesterday clinched his second drivers' World Championship with a comfortable victory in the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

 

The 2008 champion became only the fourth Briton to win two world titles. Hamilton, second in qualifying, took the lead at the start and controlled the race, as Mercedes team-mate and title rival Nico Rosberg suffered car trouble and finished 14th.

"This is the greatest day of my life," the 29 year-old said.

"2008 was a great year in my life. The feeling I have now is way, way past that. The greatest feeling ever."

Hamilton moves level with Britons Jim Clark and Graham Hill on two titles, and is one behind Sir Jackie Stewart.

He joins a number of other drivers on two titles, including his great contemporary rival Fernando Alonso. Michael Schumacher is the all-time record holder with seven, while the most successful current driver is Sebastian Vettel on four.

Rosberg, who started on pole, was left struggling by the failure of his hybrid system. With two laps to go, he was told to retire by his engineers at Mercedes but said: "I would like to go to the end."
As Hamilton crossed the line, Prince Harry, attending the race, took to the team radio to say: "Lewis, well done for not making the British public sweat. You are an absolute legend."

Hamilton stood on his car to celebrate after he returned to the pits and then went over to embrace girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger and his family, who had flown in for the race day to support him.

The Englishman's win was his 11th of the season, compared to Rosberg's five, and he finished 67 points clear at the top of the title standings. It was the 33rd win of Hamilton's career, moving him clear of his great rival Fernando Alonso into fifth in the all-time list.

Rosberg, who entered the race needing to win and hope Hamilton finished lower than second in order to win the title, was never in the position he needed to overhaul his rival.

While Hamilton made a perfect start to the day-night race under the setting sun at the impressive Yas Marina circuit, Rosberg's Mercedes bogged down and the Briton was into the lead well before braking for the first corner.

Hamilton completed the first lap 1.2 seconds in front, and inched clear until he was 2.7 seconds in front by the time he made his first pit stop on lap 10, always giving the impression of being in control.

The gap stayed at about that margin until lap 23, about half-distance, when Rosberg suffered a failure of the energy recovery system on his Mercedes.

From then on, it was a matter of damage limitation for Rosberg, who asked his team to tell him what he needed to do to finish in the top five - the result that would give him the title should Hamilton retire.

"How's it looking, to be in the position I need if Lewis has a problem?" Rosberg asked after about 34 laps.
"It's not looking good, Nico," his engineer Tony Ross told him.
"What the hell does that mean?" Rosberg replied plaintively. "What times do I need to do?"
"Just drive flat out," he was told.

But lacking 160bhp for 33 seconds of the lap, Rosberg was helpless as he slipped down the field, battling problems with his brakes, which were put under extra strain as a result of his problems.
"How's it looking, to be in the position I need if Lewis has a problem?" Rosberg asked after about 34 laps.

"It's not looking good, Nico," his engineer Tony Ross told him.
"What the hell does that mean?" Rosberg replied plaintively. "What times do I need to do?"
"Just drive flat out," he was told.

But lacking 160bhp for 33 seconds of the lap, Rosberg was helpless as he slipped down the field, battling problems with his brakes, which were put under extra strain as a result of his problems.
Williams took a double podium with Valtteri Bottas taking third, ahead of Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo, who drove brilliantly to take fourth after starting from the pit lane because both Red Bulls were found to be illegal after qualifying.

Jenson Button took fifth for McLaren in what could be the final race of an illustrious career - the team have yet to choose whether Button or team-mate Kevin Magnussen will partner Fernando Alonso, who is moving from Ferrari, in 2015.

FACTS FILE:
Hamilton Vs Stewart
Hamilton is Britain's first multiple world champion in 43 years. Jackie Stewart last achieved the feat in 1971 and would win the title for a third and final time in 1973.

Hamilton's six-year wait between titles (2008 to 2014) just falls short of Niki Lauda's record of seven (1977 to 1984). Graham Hill (1962, 1968) and Jack Brabham (1960, 1966) also had six-year gaps between title wins.

Jackie Stewart (1969, 1971, 1973), Graham Hill (1962, 1968) and Jim Clark (1963, 1965) are Britain's only other multiple F1 world champions.

Hamilton becomes Mercedes' first champion since Juan Manuel Fangio's back-to-back titles for the manufacturer in 1954 and 1955.

*FORMULA 1 CHAMPIONS
2014 - Lewis Hamilton (Britain) Mercedes
2013 - Sebastian Vettel (Germany) Red Bull
2012 - Sebastian Vettel (Germany) Red Bull
2011 - Sebastian Vettel (Germany) Red Bull
2010 - Sebastian Vettel (Germany) Red Bull
2009 - Jenson Button (Britain) Brawn
2008 - Lewis Hamilton (Britain) McLaren
2007 - Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) Ferrari
2006 - Fernando Alonso (Spain) Renault
2005 - Fernando Alonso (Spain) Renault
2004 - Michael Schumacher (Germany) Ferrari
2003 - Michael Schumacher (Germany) Ferrari
2002 - Michael Schumacher (Germany) Ferrari
2001 - Michael Schumacher (Germany) Ferrari
2000 - Michael Schumacher (Germany) Ferrari
1999 - Mika Hakkinen (Finland) McLaren
1998 - Mika Hakkinen (Finland) McLaren
1997 - Jacques Villeneuve (Canada) Williams
1996 - Damon Hill (Britain) Williams
1995 - Michael Schumacher (Germany) Benetton
1994 - Michael Schumacher (Germany) Benetton
1993 - Alain Prost (France) Williams
1992 - Nigel Mansell (Britain) Williams
1991 - Ayrton Senna (Brazil) McLaren
1990 - Ayrton Senna (Brazil) McLaren
1989 - Alain Prost (France) McLaren
1988 - Ayrton Senna (Brazil) McLaren
1987 - Nelson Piquet (Brazil) Williams
1986 - Alain Prost (France) McLaren
1985 - Alain Prost (France) McLaren
1984 - Niki Lauda (Austria) McLaren
1983 - Nelson Piquet (Brazil) Brabham
1982 - Keke Rosberg (Finland) Williams
1981 - Nelson Piquet (Brazil) Brabham
1980 - Alan Jones (Australia) Williams
1979 - Jody Scheckter (South Africa) Ferrari
1978 - Mario Andretti (U.S.) Lotus
1977 - Niki Lauda (Austria) Ferrari
1976 - James Hunt (Britain) McLaren
1975 - Niki Lauda (Austria) Ferrari
1974 - Emerson Fittipaldi (Brazil) McLaren
1973 - Jackie Stewart (Britain) Tyrrell
1972 - Emerson Fittipaldi (Brazil) Lotus
1971 - Jackie Stewart (Britain) Tyrrell
1970 - Jochen Rindt (Austria) Lotus
1969 - Jackie Stewart (Britain) Matra
1968 - Graham Hill (Britain) Lotus
1967 - Denny Hulme (New Zealand) Brabham
1966 - Jack Brabham (Australia) Brabham
1965 - Jim Clark (Britain) Lotus
1964 - John Surtees (Britain) Ferrari
1963 - Jim Clark (Britain) Lotus
1962 - Graham Hill (Britain) BRM
1961 - Phil Hill (U.S.) Ferrari
1960 - Jack Brabham (Australia) Cooper
1959 - Jack Brabham (Australia) Cooper
1958 - Mike Hawthorn (Britain) Ferrari
1957 - Juan Manuel Fangio (Argentina) Maserati
1956 - Juan Manuel Fangio (Argentina) Lancia/Ferrari
1955 - Juan Manuel Fangio (Argentina) Mercedes
1954 - Juan Manuel Fangio (Argentina) Mercedes/Maserati
1953 - Alberto Ascari (Italy) Ferrari
1952 - Alberto Ascari (Italy) Ferrari
1951 - Juan Manuel Fangio (Argentina) Alfa Romeo
1950 - Giuseppe Farina (Italy) Alfa Romeo

*MULTIPLE CHAMPIONS:
7 - Schumacher
5 - Fangio
4 - Prost, Vettel
3 - Brabham, Stewart, Lauda, Piquet, Senna
2 - Ascari, Graham Hill, Clark, Fittipaldi, Hakkinen, Alonso, Hamilton

Source: THISDAY