Hamilton honoured by Fangio family after fifth title

Hamilton honoured by Fangio family after fifth title

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

Monday 12 November 2018 17:31

Lewis Hamilton was honoured by the family of Juan Manuel Fangio after moving level with the Argentine icon by securing a fifth world drivers' title in 2018. Fangio's nephew – Juan Manuel II – presented Hamilton with a trophy that had been awarded to his uncle, while the Briton donated a race helmet to the family's museum.

Hamilton has seen off competition from Nico Rosberg and Sebastian Vettel to dominate the V6 Hybrid era, winning four of the last five championships to pull level with Fangio – leaving only Michael Schumacher ahead on seven.

Hamilton has turned his attention to Schumacher's record tallies of championships and race wins (91) but spoke of the honour of matching Fangio when his title was confirmed in Mexico.

"I've been with Mercedes since I was 13 and to complete this, when Fangio had done it with Mercedes, is an incredible feeling and it is very surreal to me at the moment.

"I just feel very, very humble, of course I dreamed about this but I never thought I'd be standing here as a five-time champion."

Fangio II was a guest of Mercedes' at the Brazilian GP, where the Silver Arrows were crowned constructors' champions for the fifth year in succession.