Breaking news
Formula 1
Hamilton says 2018 title will have great 2019 "knock-on effect"
Lewis Hamilton predicts Mercedes will enjoy "a great knock-on effect" for 2019 after clinching its fifth consecutive Formula 1 title double in the face of increased competition from Ferrari.
Scott Mitchell
Published: Nov 16, 2018, 5:31 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Hamilton's Brazilian Grand Prix victory last weekend, coupled with Valtteri Bottas finishing fifth, means Mercedes is uncatchable heading to the Abu Dhabi finale.
Read Also:
Mercedes and Ferrari were neck-and-neck for more than half the season but a golden run of form, led by Hamilton, put Mercedes in the clear and allowed it to wrap up the drivers' and constructors' championship for the fifth season in a row.
"We win races, and we've been very fortunate to have a lot of success, but when we win everyone is quite quiet – happy, but quite controlled," said Hamilton.
"This time it was just great see everyone [celebrate]. Everyone was just biting their nails through the year, so it was such an incredible effort from everyone.
"It's never a given, you just have to keep working, keep churning away. That's what we did, kept hopes high and kept our targets very, very high.
"This should, will, have a great end to the year for us but also a great knock-on effect for next year."
Mercedes' five-year domination of both championships means it has matched Ferrari's record of doubles from 2000-2004.
Hamilton said he has not experienced a high like celebrating Mercedes' fifth brace in a row.
"I could see how nervous Toto was," he said.
"He kept on reminding me how important this was for the team and I was saying, 'Toto, I know, I've been with the team for six years now, I know how important this is and you don't have to tell me – I did get pole and I'm doing the job, just sit back and let me do what I do.'
"To be able to do that, to see everyone's excitement, to know we're going to go back to the factory and see all those people who have worked for this – this is the height.
"I've never experienced the height that I've experienced here."
Hamilton fell to the ground with some of his team members when celebrating the title in parc ferme.
He added: "When we did the jumping around and everything and we fell off the barrier, I think it might be the best moment that I've had with this team."
Mercedes' massive momentum shift
Hamilton went head-to-head with Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel for the 2018 title as each driver pursued their fifth world championship.
They were evenly matched up until the Italian Grand Prix, which sparked a run of errors from Vettel at the same time Hamilton embarked on a four-race race winning streak.
Mercedes trailed Ferrari by 20 points after the first 10 races – but, as you can see by the tables below, blitzed its rival in the second half of the year.
Team
Points in first 10 races
Ferrari
287
Mercedes
267
Team
Points in last 10 races
Mercedes
353
Ferrari
266
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Renault making "strong progress" with 2019 F1 car
Next article Honda weighing up F1 practice run for Yamamoto
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Scott Mitchell
Alfa Romeo must do better in "chaotic" races - Vasseur
Formula 1
Formula 1
Alfa Romeo must do better in "chaotic" races - Vasseur
Honda: Verstappen relationship 'like a young Senna'
Formula 1
Formula 1
Honda: Verstappen relationship 'like a young Senna'
Key team personnel shouldn't be F1 boss - Ferrari
Formula 1
Formula 1
Key team personnel shouldn't be F1 boss - Ferrari
More from
Lewis Hamilton
‘I’ll try to win, somehow’ – Can Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen fight back for F1 Brazilian GP victory?
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
‘I’ll try to win, somehow’ – Can Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen fight back for F1 Brazilian GP victory?
F1 Brazilian GP: Sunday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
F1 Brazilian GP: Sunday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch
More from
Mercedes
George Russell has lost 90 points to Max Verstappen in F1 2026 runner-up battle
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
7 h
George Russell has lost 90 points to Max Verstappen in F1 2026 runner-up battle
Charles Leclerc penalised for Liam Lawson clash; Kimi Antonelli and Oliver Bearman also punished after F1 Brazilian GP
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
23 h
Charles Leclerc penalised for Liam Lawson clash; Kimi Antonelli and Oliver Bearman also punished after F1 Brazilian GP
Latest news
Alex Bowman hits out at critics in snarky post, shooting down early exit rumors
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
3 h
Alex Bowman hits out at critics in snarky post, shooting down early exit rumors
Ryan Blaney gets sweet redemption after 'nightmares' following 2024 Homestead loss
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
3 h
Ryan Blaney gets sweet redemption after 'nightmares' following 2024 Homestead loss
IndyCar 2026 season review: Dale Coyne Racing
IndyCar
Indy IndyCar 3 h
IndyCar 2026 season review: Dale Coyne Racing
Noah Gragson apologizes to Daniel Suarez for spinning him at Homestead
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
3 h
Noah Gragson apologizes to Daniel Suarez for spinning him at Homestead
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe