ABU DHABI // Lewis Hamilton was the freshest faced man in Abu Dhabi on Monday morning, despite being crowned the Formula One world champion a little more than 12 hours earlier.
The Mercedes driver stormed to the chequered flag at Yas Marina Circuit just before 7pm on Sunday evening and was still being mobbed in the paddock two hours later.
Yet when he appeared at Abu Dhabi Golf Club at 9am on Monday morning, he did so in high spirits.
Toto Wolff, the head of Mercedes-Benz motorsport, was evidently not functioning as well as his champion on only a few hours sleep.
“It still hasn’t sunk in yet, definitely not,” Hamilton said, his face clean-shaven and eyes sparkling like the jewels in his ears. “It’s an incredible feeling to wake up fresh, in such surroundings and around the people I love. The sun is shining and I feel really blessed.”
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Hamilton, after leaving the paddock, spent much of Sunday evening with friends and family, including his father Anthony, brother Nicolas and pop star girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger.
They enjoyed a meal and recalled his journey from Stevenage in England to superstardom; from sitting in the back of a trailer with a flask of chicken noodle soup to sleeping in five star hotels and owning a private jet.
“We reminisced over all the nice things over the years,” he said. “Like sitting by the gas heater for warmth or shaking my dad’s hand before going out to race.
“All the stages we went through to get to this point. It was fantastic: all the stress and worries were gone.”
Wolff, operating on three hours of sleep, said Hamilton’s second world title and Mercedes’ first champion since Juan Manuel Fangio in 1955 makes him “one of the greats”.
The German businessman has made no secret of the fact he is keen to secure the services of the 29 year-old Briton – whose contract expires next December – to many more years at Mercedes. He conceded, however, that contract negotiations “definitely wouldn’t be the best thing for me to do this morning”.
Hamilton, in jest, disagreed.
It is, however, a discussion that must take place relatively soon. Hamilton has never been in such a strong negotiating position, but he also appreciates that much of his success can be credited to the Mercedes team.
Nico Rosberg, his teammate, came within one race of taking the title, Mercedes won more races than any team ever before and not since 1969 has an engine supplier taken every pole position in a season.
“We are on a great journey and Lewis is a super popular member of the group” Wolff said.
“Mercedes bouncing back after 60 years and rewriting the history books, the Silver Arrows coming back with such a dominant season and winning 16 times – more than anybody has ever done in the past. It’s fantastic.”
Hamilton, when asked if he can envisage himself at Mercedes for the next two or three seasons, replied: “Without doubt, and maybe longer. During the season isn’t the time to talk about such things; usually you start discussing contracts in the last year. We’ll sit down soon and hopefully it will be a simple process.”
For now, the two-time world champion plans to bask in his success for a little while longer.
“People celebrate in different ways,” he said. “Some people like one big blowout. I prefer to stretch it over many days, have some nice dinners and eat lots of pancakes.
“I can’t eat whatever I want during the season, so I’m going to indulge. It’s a once in a lifetime experience, so I’m going to make the most of it.”
gmeenaghan@thenational.ae
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