Lewis Hamilton didn't win the Mexican Grand Prix on Sunday, but his ninth place finish was good enough to secure his fourth Formula One championship.
Hamilton's fourth title ties his with current rival Sebastian Vettel and Alain Prost for the third most championships in Formula One history. Michael Schumacher has the most with seven, while Juan Manuel Fangio is second with five titles.
Hamilton said after the race that winning his fourth title didn't feel real to him.
"Honestly it doesn't feel real," Hamilton said according to CNN. "It was a horrible way to [clinch the title] to be honest, but what could I do?"
https://twitter.com/LewisHamilton/status/924940009169408000
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As for Hamilton's legacy, he could never race again and he would go down as one of the greatest drivers in the history of the sport. Hamilton and Vettel are young and have a rivalry, and they are both capable of potentially reaching Schumacher's record of seven championships before their careers are over.
Hamilton is 32, and Vettel is 30. Hamilton has won three championships since Vettel's last in 2013, so the British driver certainly has the age right now.
"We're all going through different things. But I truly believe that we're all destined for greatness" - @LewisHamilton?#4TheTeam #F1 pic.twitter.com/H7JrsEwa7Q
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) October 30, 2017
Hamilton will be the favorite to win the championship next season as well, and it's hard to bet against him given his success in recent years.