Lewis Hamilton crowned F1 champion for sixth time

Hamiton was overtaken by Bottas in the closing stages of the 56-lap race at the Circuit of Americas in Texas with Red Bull's Max Verstappen taking the final spot on the podium. Hamilton's 10th victory of the season in Mexico last weekend had left him needing just four points to achieve an unassailable lead in the standings and he duly delivered.READ: Hamilton must wait on title after Mexico GP winREAD: Vettel defends Hamilton over environmental social media posts"What an incredible weekend, I can't believe it, I really can't believe it," said Hamilton over race radio at the finish of a punishing race.Only Michael Schumacher with seven world titles stands ahead of Hamilton, who has surpassed the legendary Juan Manuel Fangio in the all-time list. Bottas, who started from pole, with Hamilton only fifth on the grid, was winning for the fourth time this season, hitting the front for the final time with three laps to go to complete a fine victory, the seventh of his career."It's a good win," said the Finn. "Personally, I failed on my target this year, but Lewis deserves it. He's had a good season."Mercedes gambled on a one-stop pit strategy for Hamilton, but with fading tires he was unable to hold off the charging Bottas and was hanging on for second spot from Verstappen at the finish.

Hamilton 'overwhelmed'

But it mattered little as he clinched his third straight championship with two races of the season left and to move within touching distance of Schumacher."It is overwhelming if I am honest," said Hamilton. "I feel so much emotion. "I was pushing as hard as I could today and I was hopeful I could win but I didn't have enough left in the tires."Hamilton was adding the 2019 title to previous triumphs in 2008, 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2018 and at 34 years of age shows little sign of letting up."I don't know about how many championships I can win, but as an athlete I feel as fresh as I could be. We will keep pushing," he said.Sunday's race proved another difficult afternoon for Ferrari, with both their cars dropping back at the start as they struggled for grip.Sebastian Vettel was brilliantly overtaken by Hamilton, who also made his way past Charles Leclerc into third place in the opening flurry of activity.Vettel eventually retired with broken suspension, while Leclerc finished a distant fourth, nRead More – Source