US GP: Lewis Hamilton says he wanted win more than Vettel
Last updated on .From the section Formula 1
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."
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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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
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.
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.
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!!!!
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.
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.
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?
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.
"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!
Unitelligent comments when trying to insult someone only helps to expose your ignorance !!!
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
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.
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.
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!