On a rain-drenched track in Austin, Texas, on Sunday, Lewis Hamilton achieved a childhood dream. He leveled the record of three Grand Prix titles held by his hero, Ayrton Senna.
Senna, once considered the greatest Formula 1 driver in the world before he crashed to death in the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, has been a role model for Hamilton, who lifted the US Grand Prix championship trophy this weekend.
Hamilton overtook his Mercedes teammate Nico Rosenberg on the 49th of 56 laps, leaving him in second place. Sebastian Vettel finished third.
This was Hamilton’s 43rd career victory, as opposed to Senna’s 41st. Calling it the greatest moment of his life, he dedicated his triumph to his father and his family, who, he said, ‘sacrificed it all’ to see him at this spot.
Lewis Hamilton began his racing career with McLaren, before switching to Mercedes. The US championship is his 10th victory of the year. He still has a chance to equal the record number of wins in a season – 13, held by Sebastian Vettel and the legendary Michael Schumacher.
Whatever the outcome by the year-end, Hamilton has carved his niche amongst the racing giants of Formula One racing, and at the moment, he stands tallest.