US GP - Race weekend recap - Hamilton

Hamilton wanted the victory in America and he got it.

The McLaren driver wanted to stand on the top step of the podium again during these final few races of his McLaren career before he makes the switch to Mercedes.

It was clear for all to see how much Hamilton wanted to a final victory with with the team he has grown up with and America was the perfect place for Hamilton to do it.

With his American popstar girlfriend and various other American links, its an important race for Hamilton. Add on top the fact that he won the last United States Grand Prix in Indianapolis five years ago and not many would have bet against him as the Formula One circus headed stateside for the first race since 2007.

From the very first session of practice it was clear that it was always going to be between Hamilton and Vettel for victory.

With Vettel taking all three practice sessions and Hamilton being well over a second behind in both sessions on Friday, closing the gap to two tenths in FP3.

In qualifying Hamilton was desperate for pole position, but in the end Hamilton fell just one tenth short of Vettel and had to settle for second place on the grid.

“I came here this weekend to push almost beyond the limit - and that approach seemed to work in qualifying. I gave it everything. I did two consecutive quick-laps - and, on my second lap, having put in a ‘banker’, I didn’t really have anything to lose, so I went almost over the limit, really on the edge, but the car still seemed to handle it well. On the final corner, I gained a little time on the entry but lost it on the exit. I got every corner perfect, I reckon, except for that last one. Looking ahead to tomorrow, Turn One is very wide and there’ll be lots of opportunities for drivers to make or lose positions. My side of the grid will be a bit dirty, because it’s off-line, so I hope the authorities will cleaning the circuit on that side of the track so that the drivers on the inside will have a chance to at least keep their positions at the start.” Hamilton told formula1.com after qualifying.

Hamilton's fears proved accurate as all the drivers on the dirty side of the grid lost positions at the start of the race, with Mark Webber squeezing past the 2008 Formula One World Champion into the first corner to push the Brit down into third place.

On lap three Hamilton made a good attempt to get second place from Mark Webber, only to run wide on the exit of the corner and to lose the place back immediately to the Australian.

But he didn't have to wait long to get past the Red Bull, as he managed to make the move stick on the same corner on the following lap.

Once he was passed Webber, the McLaren began to hunt down Vettel.

On lap 42 after a number of failed attempts to close the gap in the DRS zone, Hamilton pulled off a great dummy to swoop around the outside of Vettel for lead much to the displeasure of Vettel who complained on the radio.

From then on Hamilton cruised to victory and celebrated by pointing to the American flag on the top of his helmet and celebrated on the podium wearing special Pirelli cow boy hat.

“I’m massively proud and extremely happy. I nearly lost my voice because I was screaming so much on the in-lap - not cool at all! To overtake both Red Bulls in the race was the coolest thing for me. The backmarkers really came into play today - and, finally, they worked in my favour. I’ve often been caught out when I’ve been trying to get through traffic, but things finally went my way today. When Seb (Vettel) was delayed by a backmarker, I knew I had to grab my chance, so I turned the engine up to maximum revs and pushed like crazy. Along the back-straight I went to the to the outside, but Seb closed the door, so I moved to the inside, and he came back towards me. I was very lucky. It was very close. What made the difference today between Seb and me? I wanted it more, that’s what! I won the last United States Grand Prix, in 2007, so, to come back and win it again - in front of such a great crowd - feels very special indeed.