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28 March 2024

Lewis Hamilton in tears, celebrates with girlfriend Nicole [video]

Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP celebrates with his stepmother Linda Hamilton and girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger after winning the World Championship after the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit on November 23, 2014 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Getty)

Published
By Ajanta Paul

"Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has been the best for me," says elated Lewis Hamilton.

After clinching his second Formula One world championship Hamilton declared Sunday as the greatest day of his life.

Under Abu Dhabi floodlights and fireworks the Brit celebrated his win with father Anthony, brother Nic, step-mother Linda and girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger.

The night before, Hamilton had messaged his father to say he was thinking of him.

Hamilton with Nicole and brother Nic

"I went out to the beach and I was messaging with him and I said 'Guys, I would love you to be here but just know I'm here working away...I'm trying to make you proud,'" he told reporters.

The message dropped onto Anthony's mobile just as he and the rest of the family were on the runway and awaiting takeoff on an Abu Dhabi-bound plane.

Hamilton with girlfriend Nicole

Hamilton didn't know they were on their way.

His family and Nicole's surprise was a boost to his confidence.

He informed the media that he was nervous, tense at what the day might hold and spent the night sleepless.

The double champion said, "My family are the ones that got me into racing, they're the ones that sacrificed everything to get me to where I am today."

The emotional Mercedes driver told reporters with tears in his eyes, "It's the greatest feeling ever. I'm grateful to God, I'm grateful for my car finishing and really, to everyone, thank you so much."

Before the chequered flag went down pop-star girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger was seen tensed.

Hamilton, crying on the podium as the anthem sounded and with his voice cracking in later interviews, performed a slowing down lap with the British flag fluttering from the cockpit and the words 'Hammer Time' written on it.

"Lewis, thank you very much for not letting the British public down," Britain's Prince Harry told him over the radio from the pit wall as the chequered flag came down. "You are an absolute legend."

"World champion. Oh my God, I can't believe it, thanks everyone," he had shouted over the radio before parking up and embracing his father, pop star girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger and family.

After the press conference Mercedes team celebrated with the champion in the grid.

Nicole jumped around with joy, tears of happiness rolling down.

Hamilton's win was his 11th of the campaign, with Mercedes winning a record 16 in total, and made him the first British double champion since Jackie Stewart in 1971.

"This has been an incredible year. I just cannot believe how amazing this has all been," he said.

"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."