Vettel, Alonso and Rosberg among those to offer congratulations
Tuesday 27 October 2015 14:36, UK
Lewis Hamilton's F1 peers have heaped praise on the Mercedes driver after he clinched a third Drivers' Championship.
Hamilton equalled Sir Jackie Stewart's British record of three world titles after taking victory in the United States GP on Sunday. The 30-year-old also became the first Briton to successfully defend the world championship.
"He is one of the quickest drivers we have in Formula 1," declared Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel.
Between them, Hamilton and Vettel have claimed seven of the last eight world championships and the 2016 season has already been billed as potentially hosting a riveting battle between the Mercedes and Ferrari spearheads.
Vettel already boasts four titles and in the post-US GP press conference Hamilton warned him: "I'm going to do everything to stop you getting seven, don't worry!"
"Yeah, you can try!" replied Vettel.
And worryingly for the rest of the grid Fernando Alonso says "there is more to come" from Hamilton. The relationship between the pair spectacularly collapsed when they drove together at McLaren in 2007 but that amenity has since thawed into mutual admiration. Hamilton has previously admitted that he considers Alonso to be "a three or four times world champion" while Alonso sought out his former foe in the Abu Dhabi paddock following his title victory a year ago and was effusive in praise for the Mercedes driver this weekend.
"He is one of the best in the sport and there is more to come. He is one we all respect," said the McLaren driver. "He's had some up and downs but the good thing about Lewis is that when he didn't have the best car he still won some races."
Nico Rosberg - Mercedes
"Congratulations to Lewis, he deserves to win the championship. He's driven well, he's been consistent so it is well deserved."
Sebastian Vettel - Ferrari
"He is one of the quickest drivers we have in Formula 1, so that makes him tough to beat and also makes it sweet when you manage to.
"His best quality apart from his speed? He was quite successful in Russia with the girls so you can put that down as a quality.
"It is always nice to challenge him, over the last two years he has had very good form, they have a very strong package so when you get near him that is a good sign."
Kimi Raikkonen
"He did the best job out of everybody and deserves to be the champion."
Fernando Alonso - McLaren
"He is one of the best in the sport and there is more to come. He is one we all respect.
"He's had some up and downs but the good thing about Lewis is that when he didn't have the best car he still won some races, maybe not the championship, but winning some races and fighting for the championship. That's something that maybe not everyone did.
"We saw Lewis winning in the first years, in the second year, and he could have retired with one title if he didn't have Mercedes. Maybe he can win six if no one can beat Mercedes in the next years, but that's difficult to say. Rating a driver is much more than the titles."
Martin Brundle - Sky Sports F1
"I think he changed after that second title. He could have won in 2007, he did win in 2008, and there might have been another one in between. He needed that second title, it was challenging him. Suddenly it happened and he's just flowered since then and his confidence level grew.
"He's so complete in the car now that he's started looking around the rest of the world to see where he can find some fun. As a person he's really developed."
Sir Jackie Stewart - Three-time world champion
"Records are made to be broken. When Alain Prost beat my record for the number of grands prix victories way back [in 1987] I was lucky enough to be there.
"My congratulations will go to Lewis because he's had a sensational season and, of course, a very, very good career."
Max Verstappen - Toro Rosso
"Only when l am in the same car as him can l tell you how good he is. But for sure he is very good, otherwise he isn't a two-time world champion. He has done a really good job all season and he's been there when it counted - and that's how you win championship."
Carlos Sainz - Toro Rosso
"There are three drivers at the moment who stand out: Fernando, Lewis and Seb. I would put all three the same, although I have my personal favourite which is Fernando. But all three are at a very, very high level.
"When you find yourself in the position that he has, we all have - you have to be in a competitive car to win a world championship, and he has had a competitive car, he has had the best car. But he has also gone out there and given it his all and got the best out of the car. This year, it has been an easy year for him he has done such a good job in that car."
Jenson Button - McLaren
"This year when he wins the world championship, which he will do, he will still be Lewis, but he will just be Lewis with three world titles. Hopefully next year will be a year when people can challenge Mercedes and that is what Lewis wants as well. It is nice winning an intra-team battle and winning the world championship, but having another team to fight against is what everyone wants to see and I think Lewis does as well.
"I'm not sure that team will be us, we will do our best and we will see what we have at the first race, but in 2017 hopefully that will be us fighting at the front with two or three different teams.
"And that is what we all love because you don't know what that team is going to do on strategy, or the next race, or their next upgrade and that is what people love about this sport and I think that is what the fans want as well."
