Hamilton back on high after rediscovering winning formula

Lewis Hamilton believes he can now leave McLaren after achieving his “ultimate high” regardless of what unfolds in Brazil on Sunday.

The victory Hamilton has craved since announcing his departure at the end of September on a £45 million (€55 million), three-year contract with Mercedes finally, and deservedly, came his way in the United States on Sunday.

Niggly issues in Japan and Korea undermined his performance in both races, and although producing a strong drive in India for fourth, he suffered heartbreak in Abu Dhabi, retiring whilst leading.

That was the second time this season that had happened for Hamilton, with the previous instance in Singapore a few days before he stunned Formula One by deciding to join a team with one win in three years.

After what unfolded at the Yas Marina circuit, it appeared as if the 27-year-old would not be granted his one last wish, not in light of Sebastian Vettel’s resurgence. But far from flying off into the distance at the Circuit of The Americas after dominating every practice session and topping the times in every qualifying period, Vettel found himself hounded by Hamilton.

On lap 42, Hamilton conjured the move he was striving for in the previous few laps, coming within inches of a collision, but making his manoeuvre stick before sealing a 21st career victory, all of which have been with McLaren.

It allowed the team to don the now famous rocket-red tops that make an appearance when one of their drivers takes the chequered flag — and that is good enough for Hamilton to sign off with.

Hamilton said: “It’s what I’ve been working for, and we would have had a lot more if we hadn’t have had some of the problems we have had.

“But this win makes all those disappear. It allows us to move forward and smile, enjoy and appreciate how hard everyone has worked.”

As far as Hamilton is concerned, he can say his farewells with his head up, adding: “This is the ultimate high. I’m not going into the last race saying we can get higher than this because this is what I’ve been talking about, getting that last win. Naturally, I hope we can compete and we’ve a chance of winning in Brazil, but in Austin the right circumstances and the right things happened at the right times to enable me to do that.”

For boss Martin Whitmarsh, along with a smile there was relief etched all over his face that his team had delivered for Hamilton after recent pain.

Pit-stop blunders, other errors and unreliability of late ensured McLaren will end the year trophyless for a fourth season in a row since he took charge, so Hamilton’s win was welcome.

“We have underperformed for the last three or four races, and at a race team like this you start to worry about those things a little, but Lewis did a fantastic job,” said Whitmarsh.