US GP: Lewis Hamilton says he wanted win more than Vettel

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Lewis Hamilton wins US Grand Prix - race highlights

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton says the key to his United States Grand Prix win was that he wanted victory more than Red Bull rival Sebastian Vettel.

Hamilton, 27, spent much of the race pressuring championship leader Vettel for the lead and finally overtook the German on lap 42 on the 56-lap race.

"I wanted it more," said Hamilton. "I was hungrier than him. It's not even possible he wanted it as much as me."

'One of the best wins' for Hamilton

Vettel responded: "I don't know about that. It was very close between us."

The result means the race for the title goes down to the final race in Brazil this weekend, with Vettel, champion for the last two years, holding a 13-point lead over Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, who was world champion in 2005 and 2006.

Victory for Alonso at Interlagos would give him his third drivers' crown if Vettel finishes lower than fourth.

Second place for the Spaniard would mean he would only win the title if Vettel failed to make the top seven. Third spot for Alonso would require Vettel to finish lower than ninth.

It was an impressive drive from Hamilton, who leaves McLaren at the end of the season to join Mercedes.

The Briton, who was forced to retire while leading the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, lost a place to Red Bull's Mark Webber at the start but reclaimed second with a bold move at Turn 12 on lap four.

He then set off in pursuit of Vettel and finally overtook his rival after 38 laps of pressure and a little help from the HRT of Narain Karthikeyan, who slowed the German as he was being lapped.

"It was actually quite tricky," said Hamilton. "I seemed to be catching him in the first sector but then, coming out of Turn 9, he'd get a gap and it was difficult to be close enough for the back straight.

"How many times has it happened to me when I've been caught out by backmarkers? It finally worked in my favour for once.

"I knew it was going to be that lap, so I turned the engine up to maximum revs, went to go on the outside but he closed the door, went to go to the inside, but he started to move back. I was very lucky, it was very close, and I managed to pull off the pass."

Vettel added: "I think we did a good job keeping him behind for most of the race. Unfortunately, I had a little but of traffic which allowed him to be close and gave him a chance for free - and he took it. There wasn't much between us."

In achieving victory, Hamilton became only the second driver to win the United States Grand Prix in two separate locations. The Briton also won in Indianapolis in 2007. emulating Formula 1 legend Ayrton Senna, who won the race in Phoenix and Detroit.

"It was wicked, I loved it so much," added Hamilton. "I'm so happy. I nearly lost my voice when I came across the line. For that whole in lap, I was screaming all the time, I was so happy. Not cool at all.

"We really deserved this one. Sebastian put up a great fight. The Bulls have been incredibly dominant for some time so to be able to topple them is a wicked feeling."

Hamilton admitted the team's recent reliability issues played on his mind in the closing laps.

"I just rubbed the car," he said. "I was like: 'Come on baby, we can make it.' To finish on a high is really special and hopefully we can go to Brazil with similar pace."

McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh added: "Lewis did a fantastic job. Sebastian is a quick driver but you can put him under pressure and you can race him. He did that fantastically.

"He closed in and he was patient, but just got by brilliantly. He had to overtake Mark along the way as well, so overtaking both Red Bulls today is a nice feeling.

"With one race to go, we'd like to win that as well. That would be some compensation for some of the disappointments, some of the failures, that we've had this year.

"We've got to get better, we've got to get stronger, we've got to make less mistakes. We'll learn from that and come out stronger next year, but at the moment we've focused now on Brazil."

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422 comments

  • Comment posted by U15506809, at 03:38 19 Nov 2012

    Excellent race. I never really liked Hamilton. However, I'm forced to admit that this year he has been outstanding. He really put to bed the questions last season raised
    As for the complaining about backmarkers by SV. Bad/Good luck comes and goes. He got more than enough good luck in Abu Dhabi. Although him and Hamilton were in a class of there own today. A hairs width between them

  • Comment posted by U15419501, at 02:22 19 Nov 2012

    Superb race. Excellent driving from Hamilton. This race surely shows the British fan base, the superiority of Hams over Button. No one else was even close to the two leading drivers this weekend.
    The reason why these two drivers were in front all throughout the race was because all the other drivers bar Alonso, do not have the skill to push themselves beyond that limit required to keep them ahead.

  • Comment posted by MCForty, at 03:18 19 Nov 2012

    It was so good to see another car keep pace and subsequently pass the Bulls. No strategy, no tactics, just two evenly matched cars and drivers racing each other - that's how it supposed to be. Lewis showed today just how credible a racer he is, I hope Mercedes don't let him down next year and I hope circumstances play into Alonso's hands come next week.

  • Comment posted by U13748313, at 10:53 19 Nov 2012

    I like and respect both Lewis and Jenson although I am a 'fanboy' of neither.

    But it's my opinion that Lewis is the better driver and certainly more entertaining. The closest we've had to Mansell.

    Winning must have been bitter sweet for him though when you look at Mercedes' results. Hopefully for Lewis' sake it's because they are focusing on the 2013 car.

    Great race though.

  • Comment posted by Oddz, at 16:22 19 Nov 2012

    ok, now this hate for Lewis is getting ridiculous!!!
    WE SHOULD NOW HATE HIM BECAUSE HE GREW UP ON A COUNCIL ESTATE!!
    even heard one sayin he doesnt like AH cause of his face. he shouldn't highfive with the mechanics cuz he hasn't changed a weel lol yes I am talkin about u typicalEnglishn8
    so do u feel the same way about JB dads? cuz I seen him celebrating with them also
    JUST RIDICULOUS!!!!

  • Comment posted by Funky, at 18:43 19 Nov 2012

    Well as a Button fan, here is my take on things. Button has driven okay this season but Hamilton has driven better and though pains to admit he has been very controlled and indeed unlucky this season, apart from possibly the Pastor incident he has driven very well this year. His detractors just need to suck it up

  • Comment posted by chris, at 14:45 19 Nov 2012

    It made a really nice change for someone to chase down Vettel and pass him instead of him running of into the distance like he has done so many times before. Great job from Mclaren all round. I think JB had a great drive coming back from 16th on the first lap to finish 5th with some masterfull overtaking especially against Kimi. I hope they can finish in style in Brazil.

  • Comment posted by bitofrealism, at 12:27 19 Nov 2012

    Over the second half of the season Hamilton seems to be in the best place both mentally and on the track he has been in for a long time.

    His qualifying pace and race pace has been excellent, if it wasn't for McLaren failures he could still be in with a chance come Interlagos.

  • Comment posted by Inmyopinion, at 09:11 19 Nov 2012

    What a great driver Hami is. Sad loss for Maclaren but great gain for Merc... Hope they build a car to match his talent.

  • Comment posted by ayrtonsenna, at 08:12 19 Nov 2012

    Hamilton was incredible; anyone who says Vettel can't race needs to sit and watch that again; alonso - salvages something from nothing, even if it was morally questionable at the start.

    Vettel - he needs to drop the attitude of entitlement. "Did you see how close that was" - it's racing. He moved right after feignting left, but it was all good clean racing and both drivers showed their skill.

  • Comment posted by straight talker, at 18:04 19 Nov 2012

    Benson, why does it bother you sooo much when Hamilton wins? twice now this year you have ensured there was no blog article after a race and both times it was when Hamilton won.

    You seem to want to stifle the debate when Hamilton wins but want to stoke up the negative debate about him when he doesn't.

    You have a real problem with him don't you?

  • Comment posted by BaggiosPonytail, at 09:18 19 Nov 2012

    It was a brilliant drive from Hamilton. It shows that without the series of mechanical failures he would have been right in the title race. The ifs and buts that make F1 so unpredictable and interesting I guess.

  • Comment posted by straight talker, at 19:01 19 Nov 2012

    I think its obvious Roberto Gomez Bolanos is just another Hammy hater trying to get his kicks from winding people up.

    He knows he is talking rubbish, he's just trying to get angry responses for his own entertainment.

    I suggest everyone just ignore this troll and stop responding to him.

  • Comment posted by U12525194, at 12:14 19 Nov 2012

    1 nimlo
    "This race surely shows the British fan base, the superiority of Hams over Button."

    13 Dan Umphray
    "Button is slowing quickly"

    26 smartbrother
    "Today, jb has been made to look like a gokart racer"

    Why are the three top comments from Hamilton "fans" all having a go at Button? It's absolutely pathetic, do you have to deride Button to make Hamilton seem better? He went from 12th to 5th!

  • Comment posted by DaTroothurtzz, at 11:28 19 Nov 2012

    Old moaner @92 Hamilton was only stressing how much he wanted to win, He said Vettel did not want it as much as him.....
    Unitelligent comments when trying to insult someone only helps to expose your ignorance !!!

  • Comment posted by Oddz, at 19:35 19 Nov 2012

    @ Drunken hobo

    Sorry mate but I have to agree with rn on this
    You are blind where LH is the subject.
    btw that is not the only outlet that has published LH misfortunes, different other media sources have also released similar analysis.

    so like rn I have to ask, what really s ur beef with LH?
    nd plz dnt say it s coz he lives in a tax heaven or that he wears earrings

    @230.DreemUK
    Indeed

  • Comment posted by U14976425, at 16:11 19 Nov 2012

    What do people think about Sebs move to defend left then twitch then swipe back to the right at Lewis, just when Lewis pulled out of his slipstream to pass?

    Bit out of order, especially for the wheel touching crash it could have caused at 200mph. Bit stupid as well, risking not finishing the race. Lewis said himself it was "real dangerous" after the race.

  • Comment posted by U14403732, at 15:17 19 Nov 2012

    @134 what the hell are you going on about? are you saying that anyone who comes from a council estate and a council house is on benefits?

    AH has always worked, you can rent council hoses you know. You sound like a biggit or something.

    Lewis owes the state nothing and AH owes them nothing, he has always been a working man.

  • Comment posted by webbeldez, at 14:14 19 Nov 2012

    Top drive from both Mclaren drivers this weekend!

    Some fantastic wheel to wheel action. from both drivers. Brilliant Race.

    Pure comedy too to hear Vettel try and put the blame at NK's pedals. Hamilton was just too quick!

    Dare say it, but if the reliability hadn't struck Button in quali, there would have been two Mclarens on the podium.

    It bodes well for Brazil...let's see another trophy!

  • Comment posted by eddy, at 11:27 19 Nov 2012

    @66 very surprised that the actions of Vettel not mentioned earlier. HD TV was pretty poor couldn't locate Vettels teddy bear thrown out after Lewis passed him. A short time later a brilliant over take by button on Kimi very close indeed and no teddy chucked out by Kimi. RB and McLaren cars are not evenly matched RB is faster but Lewis makes his do what it is not capable of. Roll on next season.

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