Austin (United States) (AFP)

"It has been a difficult year for our team," Lewis Hamilton said on Sunday, crowned world champion for the sixth time in his career, paying tribute to Niki Lauda, ​​who passed away this year.

The three-time Austrian world champion (1975, 1977, 1984) was the non-executive director of the German team until his death last May at the age of 70. Hamilton has repeatedly stated that he played a key role in bringing him from McLaren, where he won his first title in 2008, to Mercedes for which he won the other five.

"It takes a long time to dominate a subject and I have the impression that I still have things to learn," said Sunday the 34-year-old British champion, who, although crowned, did not win the GP of USA, won by teammate Valtteri Bottas.

"Valtteri did an excellent job today and had a great season," he said, paying tribute to the Finn who was still the only one who could prevent him from winning a 6th title before the USA GP. United in Austin (Texas).

Hamilton has won so far this season 10 races and Bottas 4 while there are still two races to run.

At 34, he is more than one title behind the absolute record man, the German Michael Scumacher (7 crowns), but one ahead of the Argentine Juan Manuel Fangio (5), glory of the 1950s who had also won several of them for Mercedes.

"I've always said that reaching Michael's record is not a goal, I'm not into records and things like that, I've long thought it was a long way off and now, even if it's very close, it still seems very far, "he said.

- Enjoy the moment -

"I'm not going to think about it now and I want to take advantage of the moment because you never know what's going on tomorrow," said the six-time champion.

"There are always forces trying to pull you down," acknowledged Hamilton, who is the only black champion in F1 history and does not hesitate to take positions, often contested, on social networks , especially on the defense of the environment and global warming.

He also mentioned the death of the Frenchman Anthoine Hubert during a Formula 2 race at the end of August on the sidelines of the F1 GP of Belgium.

"I remember watching the child races, going down to the living room with my father and a sandwich," he said, recognizing that it was "amazing" to be counted among the heroes of his childhood.

"I am grateful to the sport for bringing so many things to me and I am grateful to him for being in the position I am in today, and it is not over," he said.

"I feel in Heaven today," he said, pointing out that his entire family had come to witness his triumph, namely his father and mother-in-law, his mother and father-in-law, and his siblings.

5Propos collected during a press conference °

© 2019 AFP