Lewis Hamilton has won the Formula One world championship title for the second time after taking victory in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The 29-year-old has reclaimed the title he last won six years ago with McLaren.
“This has been an incredible year,” said Hamilton following his success. “I just cannot believe how amazing this has all been.”
“Coming to this team last year, the decision to come here, when a lot of people said it was the wrong choice. The steps we took last year and then coming into this year, it was just unbelievable.
“And then again, as I said, the fan support has been phenomenal. I never in a million years thought I’d have that kind of support, so as I said before, this is the greatest moment in my life.
“It feels very surreal. It feels like an out-of-body experience. I feel like I’m back here watching this going on, it’s not really happening. So I’m going to really make sure I gift my thanks and count my blessings.”
List of Formula One drivers’ champions
| Rank | Driver | Championships |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Schumacher | 7 |
| 2 | Juan Manuel Fangio | 5 |
| =3 | Alain Prost | 4 |
| =3 | Sebastian Vettel | 4 |
| =5 | Jack Brabham | 3 |
| =5 | Jackie Stewart | 3 |
| =5 | Niki Lauda | 3 |
| =5 | Nelson Piquet | 3 |
| =5 | Ayrton Senna | 3 |
| =10 | Alberto Ascari | 2 |
| =10 | Jim Clark | 2 |
| =10 | Graham Hill | 2 |
| =10 | Emerson Fittipaldi | 2 |
| =10 | Mika Hakkinen | 2 |
| =10 | Fernando Alonso | 2 |
| =10 | Lewis Hamilton | 2 |
| =17 | Giuseppe Farina | 1 |
| =17 | Mike Hawthorn | 1 |
| =17 | Phil Hill | 1 |
| =17 | John Surtees | 1 |
| =17 | Denny Hulme | 1 |
| =17 | Jochen Rindt | 1 |
| =17 | James Hunt | 1 |
| =17 | Mario Andretti | 1 |
| =17 | Jody Scheckter | 1 |
| =17 | Alan Jones | 1 |
| =17 | Keke Rosberg | 1 |
| =17 | Nigel Mansell | 1 |
| =17 | Damon Hill | 1 |
| =17 | Jacques Villeneuve | 1 |
| =17 | Kimi Raikkonen | 1 |
| =17 | Jenson Button | 1 |
2014 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
- Eight different Driver of the Weekend winners in 2014
- Sponsor Watch: 2014 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
- 2014 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix team radio transcript
- Top ten pictures from the 2014 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
- Vote for your Abu Dhabi GP Driver of the Weekend
Will Wood (@willwood)
23rd November 2014, 14:44
Congratulations, Lewis. Deserved double world champion.
That move to Mercedes in 2013 has got to be one of the greatest driver decisions in F1 history.
Huge respect to a valiant Nico Rosberg also. Pushed his team mate all the way to the end.
MarkM
23rd November 2014, 15:25
I disagree, Schumacher left a title winning Benetton to go a dismal Ferrari that I think was in worse shape for him when he got there then Hamilton when he got to Mercedes. You’re forgetting the past very easily.
Alex Ward
23rd November 2014, 16:01
Vettel left a race winning team for a non race winning team and won 4 wdcs in a row
Dom (@3dom)
23rd November 2014, 16:21
Lol. True
matt90 (@matt90)
23rd November 2014, 16:15
It proved to be a great move in the end, but it didn’t have such a quick return, and Benetton had a better ’96 and ’97 than McLaren’s last 2 years.
Patrickl (@patrickl)
23rd November 2014, 16:33
Ferrari was a top 3 team in 1995. Hardly “dismal”. Mercedes was messing about in fifth in 2012.
Besides, the whole championship winning Benetton team moved to Ferrari. It was basically the same team, but with double the budget. Still it took them till 1999/2000 to finally win the titles.
LuvinF1 (@luvinf1)
23rd November 2014, 22:07
Yes, but about 18 others moved with Michael. None of them were slouches.
regs (@regs)
23rd November 2014, 19:15
Rosberg deserved it as well. 11 pole positions this year. They definitely should score points for pole positions. Some 5-7 points at least.
LuvinF1 (@luvinf1)
23rd November 2014, 22:08
Pole positions only count if you can cash them in on Sunday …
Paul
23rd November 2014, 22:37
Why points for pole? The reward is inherent in the act of getting pole.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
24th November 2014, 0:42
@regs I disagree completely. Getting to start in front of everyone else has always been the only reward for pole position and it’s a tradition which should be respected. Along with the principle of points being awarded based on race finishing positions alone. And there are other reasons why awarding points for pole position is a bad idea.
Anil Sanagavarapu (@anilsk2013)
24th November 2014, 1:11
I disagree with the idea of points for pole.
Bc
24th November 2014, 5:10
If there were points for quali would Hamilton have setup more qualifing than the race?
It seemed as without isse they would be one 2 on the grid hamilton decided to go more with race pace setup. And Rosberg being one of the top drives meant hamilton often could not sneek pole with better race setup. Hamilton may not have been able to do this if other cars had been closer at quaili
Yusha (@freebird78)
24th November 2014, 7:21
+1
sumedh
23rd November 2014, 14:46
Congratulations Lewis!! Well deserved win!!
JCost (@jcost)
23rd November 2014, 16:33
I’m happy :)
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
23rd November 2014, 20:00
+1
Dom (@3dom)
23rd November 2014, 21:43
I’m elated
Diceman (@diceman)
23rd November 2014, 14:47
If we ignore double points and imagine it would have been Hamilton who’s ERS disappeared, it would have been a thriller :p
Congrats to Lewis and his family, friends & fans, well deserved.
Mashiat (@mashiat)
23rd November 2014, 14:47
In a way, I think that Rosberg is kinda glad that he bogged down the start. Would’ve been so tough for him if that happened if he led. Not to mention that Massa might’ve split them and given Rosberg the title.
David BR2
23rd November 2014, 15:18
You’re contradicting yourself a bit! I’m sure even losing the championship, Rosberg would have preferred the race win to go with his qualifying cup.
Also I think Massa *would* have split them. Hamilton was pushing, not cruising, before Rosberg’s problems began, whereas Rosberg would have probably have pushed less, meaning Massa would have been much closer at the end. All hypothetical but it shows just how much Rosberg lost the chance from the start, irrespective of his later car problems.
Mashiat (@mashiat)
23rd November 2014, 14:48
Ricciardo 0 time WDC
Hamilton 2 time WDC
Alonso 2 time WDC
Vettel 4 time WDC
How is this fair?
Mayank (@mjf1fan)
23rd November 2014, 14:56
So only 1 bad season and you dont deserve your WDC??
How was 2011 season for Hamilton?
Mashiat (@mashiat)
23rd November 2014, 15:16
@mjf1fan I’m not saying that Vettel is a bad driver. Just that it seems unfair that he has twice that of FA and LH, and the combined of them + DR, who proved that he is a great, possibly greater, driver than SV.
Mayank (@mjf1fan)
23rd November 2014, 15:55
@mashiat
When did a driver won a championship with an inferior car?
Seb won 4 on the go. Even if he isnt a great driver., no one wins it 4 in a row.
He had a bad season and Ricciardo owned him at many races but you still have to have some talent to win 4 in a row.
This years Mercedes were untouchable, so should we say lewis can also win only in a dominant car?
No it would be very wrong to say that. And nothing is unfair. LH & FA made their choices to drive for their teams with whom they thought they will win WDC.
Kingshark (@kingshark)
23rd November 2014, 15:57
2008
No, because he’s already won a WDC with the 2nd best car. ;)
Mayank (@mjf1fan)
23rd November 2014, 16:50
2008, Ferrari and Mclaren were almost equal. So your point doesnt hold any ground :P
Kingshark (@kingshark)
23rd November 2014, 17:58
@mjf1fan
Overall, Ferrari had the most wins, the most podiums, the most points, the most pole positions, the most fastest laps, and lead the most laps in 2008. Ferrari had the best car in the majority of races that season.
I’d say that Lewis has shown he can win a WDC with an inferior car.
Anil Sanagavarapu (@anilsk2013)
24th November 2014, 1:13
+1
Bforth (@bforth)
24th November 2014, 1:59
1999. The Ferrari was quicker than the McLaren. Hakkinen probably wouldn’t have won that championship without Michael’s accident.
That he barely held off Irvine is proof positive of that.
Optimaximal (@optimaximal)
23rd November 2014, 22:44
@mashiat What has ‘fairness’ got to do with it? Alonso and Hamilton have now finished the year with more points than anyone else twice, Vettel four times.
When Daniel Ricciardo does the same thing at least once, we’ll talk.
McL88AsAp (@deongunner)
23rd November 2014, 15:05
Actually, Rosberg have more reliability issues : Canada, Britain, Singapore and this race. While Lewis only have 2 (arguably 3) Australia and Canada, and start in Italy. What makes diffrence is Belgium
safeeuropeanhome (@debaser91)
23rd November 2014, 15:06
+ Hungary and Germany qualifying which put him at the back.
McL88AsAp (@deongunner)
23rd November 2014, 15:10
Forgot to mention Qualifying
matt90 (@matt90)
23rd November 2014, 16:18
Canada was obviously less severe for Rosberg though.
Ian Stephens (@ians)
23rd November 2014, 23:52
Rosberg had the same problem as Hamilton, but managed to protect his car to the end of the race. Hamilton did not, albeit because he was following Rosberg and had the disadvantage of dirty air.
Woody (@woodyd91)
23rd November 2014, 17:08
Canada made no difference for Rosberg, He was more than likely going to finish second anyway. He was being caught massively until both of their cars went wrong.
Strontium (@strontium)
23rd November 2014, 15:06
Including Ricciardo in this list is a little bit too over the top given that this was only his first season in a front car.
Broke84 (@broke84)
23rd November 2014, 15:40
Its all irrelevant. Vettel was the best driver, car combo of 2 years and he did a good enough job in the other 2 years to get the other 2. Car and driver, not just driver.
PorscheF1 (@xtwl)
23rd November 2014, 15:48
@mashiat Just putting your name here so you’d reaad this. (@broke84) Vettel his 2011 and 2013 titles are no different to this one of Hamilton. It’s always car and driver.
Broke84 (@broke84)
24th November 2014, 12:35
That’s what I’m saying
Kimberley Barrass
24th November 2014, 1:29
Here’s an interesting stat though: Lewis is the first champion since Schuey to achieve the feat in two different teams!! Oh yes, and the first multiple champion since Schuey to split his championships!!
Neither Sebastian, nor Fernando can claim either of those accolades just yet…..So Lewis does sit nicely into this list: Fangio, Prost, Schumacher, Hamilton, Brabham, Stewart, Lauda…
I agree though that Alonso is probably more(?) deserving of at least one of those Vettel championships. Personally I think 3,3,2 for Vet,Alo and Ham would probably be indicative of where they should be.
Bringing Ricciardo in though is a strange one. I rate Sebastian as a ludicrously fast driver, but it is looking with a small amount of data that he may just be unable to adjust to this formula after being raised with the RB and it’s astonishing Newey inspired downforce. It may well be that putting any young driver into that car and being spoilt with it for years would have made switching to a leser car dificult, whereas this years RB is obviously much better than last years Toro Rosso, making the switch easier for Ricciardo?
I think we will only know for sure in the future, but we do know something else now:
That Lewis Hamilton is so far the only driver (obviously) to win World Championships under the old engine formula, and the new, and with only potentially Alonso, Vettel and Raikkonen from next year able to replicate the feat, I am already wondering if it is going to happen for anyone else. Rosberg will surely get one, Bottas is looking strong, and of course, Ricciardo himself and Kvyat. If between them and Lewis, they share the next five WDC, then Lewis may end up as the most lauded of the three because of stats like the three mentioned here.
Surely that won’t happen though?
Mashiat (@mashiat)
23rd November 2014, 14:49
Rosberg is probably bawling his eyes out now.
Traverse
23rd November 2014, 14:51
Hehe.
Oz
23rd November 2014, 17:43
While you are laughing at him think about how much he got paid for his year’s work :-)
Guy (@)
24th November 2014, 4:04
You’re assuming money is consolation for any world class competitor. It baffles me when people make the money argument. Yeah the money is nice but that’s not why they do it.
JohnBt (@johnbt)
24th November 2014, 4:15
+100 they get millions still even they’ve not not won any WDC, Eddie Irvine was the most successful investing his millions from Ferrari in property and made even more.
Wil-Liam (@wil-liam)
23rd November 2014, 14:51
Race Reliability leveled out,yaay
Traverse
23rd November 2014, 14:52
Indeed, Karma.
sumedhvidwans (@sumedhvidwans)
23rd November 2014, 14:54
Not leveled out. This was double points. So, ROS actually has more reliability issues now in races this year.
@HoHum (@hohum)
23rd November 2014, 20:55
Double 0 points is the same as single 0 points.
Anil Sanagavarapu (@anilsk2013)
24th November 2014, 1:14
+1
sumedhvidwans (@sumedhvidwans)
23rd November 2014, 14:55
HAM’s race issues : Australia, Canada, Spa
ROS’s race issues : Silverstone, Spa, Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi
iAltair (@)
23rd November 2014, 14:58
I see what you did there.
Abu Double.
Kroon (@kroonracing)
23rd November 2014, 15:00
ROS’s race issues : Canada, Silverstone, Spa, Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi
Woody (@woodyd91)
23rd November 2014, 17:09
You’re actually putting Spa as a race issue for Rosberg? Really??!!
Anil Sanagavarapu (@anilsk2013)
24th November 2014, 1:17
Please subtract Monaco’s ‘getting away with cheating’….those 7 points gained offset the 7 points lost in Canada.
Keith Campbell (@keithedin)
23rd November 2014, 15:00
Ross also had the same issue in Canada but it didn’t cause a DNF – so you could argue he had more races issues anyway (not saying luck was even but was similar in the end IMO)
DaveW (@dmw)
23rd November 2014, 15:02
Hamilton also won twice in one race. What a performance, right? Yes double points was dumb lets all be glad it’s gone.
Dom (@3dom)
23rd November 2014, 16:33
@dmw “double points was dumb let’s all be glad it’s gone”
Amen
Mashiat (@mashiat)
23rd November 2014, 15:17
@sumedhvidwans What about Singapore?
Patrickl (@patrickl)
23rd November 2014, 16:37
What about Hungary and Germany? It might have happened in qualifying, but that still affects the race result.
Besides Hamilton’s car failed from the leas while Rosberg had already lost the lead in the races that he dropped out.
Reality is that with this double points result the score difference finally sort of accurately reflects the dominance that Hamlton had over Rosberg all season.
Uzair Syed (@ultimateuzair)
23rd November 2014, 16:43
HAM’s race issues: Australia, Canada, Spa (caused by Rosberg).
HAM’s qualifying issues: Germany Q1, Hungary Q1
ROS’s race issues: Canada (didn’t lose too much), Silverstone, Singapore, Abu Dhabi and Abu Dhabi.
ROS’s qualifying issues: 0
I would say that it’s pretty even despite it not looking like it.
Keith Campbell (@keithedin)
23rd November 2014, 14:56
So in the end you, after everything that’s happened this year, you could have flipped a coin to decide the championship. If Lewis’ car had failed instead of Nico’s it would have been Nico’s championship. Lewis deserves it tho, he was the better driver over the season (and would have won the race if there had been no issues) so I suppose it was justice in the end. Congratulations to him – hope to see another close battle next year.
Bc
24th November 2014, 5:22
What if neither car failed?
Stig Semper Fi (@stigsemperfi)
23rd November 2014, 14:56
Thrilled for Lewis but guttered for Nico.
Kingshark (@kingshark)
23rd November 2014, 14:58
Man I felt so bad for Nico in this race. It’s one thing to have your car break down in the final race of the season. It’s another thing to have your car turn into a Caterham get passed by everyone.