Lewis Hamilton has said that he simply ‘feels at home’ in the United States after winning in the country for the fifth time in his career.
He added to his wins in Indianapolis in 2007 and at the Circuit of the Americas in 2012, 2014 and 2015 to equal Michael Schumacher’s record of five wins at the United States Grand Prix.
It is the third country on the current calendar on which Hamilton has taken five wins, with the British driver also achieving the feat at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Canada and at the Hungaroring in Hungary.
The British driver, who has travelled often around the country in the past, and has only failed to finish on the podium in the United States once, in 2013, proclaimed his adoration for the destination.
“This has always been a good hunting ground for me,” Hamilton said.
“I love being here in the States. [It] very much feels like home, and as I said, we’ve had some incredible support here this weekend that I’m so thankful for, so a big, big thank you to everyone.”
He also thanked his team for their work in helping Mercedes to their fifth one-two finish of the year.
“The team did a great job this weekend to put us both up there so I feel very proud to be a part of it.”
With the gap between himself and Rosberg down to 26 points in the Drivers’ Championship, Hamilton asked people to ‘keep their fingers crossed’ for him after discussing the tough fight that lies ahead of him.
“Well all I can do is do my best and continue to drive like I have done this weekend.
“Nico’s been driving fantastically all year, so the battle will continue, but I know we have all the support that’ll continue as well. So please keep your fingers crossed guys.”
Rosberg has 331 points in the championship after 18 races, with Hamilton now on a total of 305 with a maximum of 75 points from races in Mexico, Brazil and Abu Dhabi remaining on the 2016 calendar.
