Hamilton felt 'incomplete' after winning title

Hamilton felt 'incomplete' after winning title

Originally written by Joas van Wingerden. This version is a translation.

Wednesday 28 November 2018 14:17

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff underlined Lewis Hamilton's commitment to bringing success to the Silver Arrows by suggesting his star man felt "incomplete" after wrapping up his fifth drivers' championship in 2018 as the constructors' title was still up for grabs at the time.

Hamilton saw off the challenge from Sebastian Vettel once and for all at the Mexican Grand Prix, but Mercedes were not crowned five-time champions until two weeks later in Brazil, where Hamilton won.

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The Brit also took victory in the season-ending Abu Dhabi GP – his victories at Interlagos and Yas Marina his first wins after winning a mid-season title in his career.

Wolff hailed a "new Lewis" which is even more committed to victory than at any point in a career that is already setting records.

"He's actually driven stronger after winning the drivers' title," said Wolff.

"I feel he's just so embedded in the team and integrated that the drivers' title felt incomplete, which for a driver is really strange because they are calibrated on the drivers' title.

"But he said it felt incomplete and that we needed to seal the teams' title.

"When you look at his face, that was almost more relief and happiness about sealing the constructors' title than the first one.

"And that's why he just didn't take his foot off the throttle until the very end, and that is somehow a new Lewis also."

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