World champion Lewis Hamilton interview

Afterwards the clearly emotional new world champion was mobbed by the world's press and had to be escorted through the crowd to get back to his pit. After celebrating with his McLaren team and family he was mobbed again! But even 20 minutes after the race, he was fighting to find the words and the composure to express his feelings on becoming the first British world champion since Damon Hill in 1996.

Autosport.com was there to hear what Lewis had to say as he relived the unbelieveable drama of the final two laps of the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Q. Lewis can you give us your thoughts on becoming world champion?

Lewis Hamilton: It's pretty much impossible to put into words, I am still speechless. My whole family is here, my dad's here. It has been such a long journey and with a lot of support from people back home. My team did a fantastic job all year and all the sacrifices we made, I'm so thrilled to be able to do this for everyone.

Q. What was the tension of those last few laps and last of couple of corners like from inside your car?

LH: Before it started to rain I was quite comfortable. My tyres were a little bit shot so I was struggling to keep the pace up, but I was able to stay ahead of [Sebastian] Vettel and then it started to drizzle and I didn't want to take any risks. Then he got past me and I was told that I had to get in front of him, and I couldn't believe it. Then at the last corner I managed to get past Timo Glock and I'm telling you it was just amazing. I can only thank God.

Q. Had the team told you about Glock slowing down?

LH: Just before I got to him they said you have to get past Glock, so I was trying my hardest to get to Vettel but he was just as quick as me, if not a little bit quicker. It was one of the toughest races of my life, if not the toughest.

Q. What was the feeling when you crossed the line and you knew you were world champion?

LH: Well I didn't. I was shouting: "Do I have it, do I have it?" and then they came on when I was at Turn One and they told me and I was ecstatic.

Q. And now you've repaid the faith McLaren has shown in you.

LH: It's been a dream.

Q. You made history, so are you really aware yet of what you have done?

LH: I don't think it has hit home yet. I just had the most intense race of my life, my heart is still racing. I'm just so thankful for the opportunity the team gave me. Huge respect to McLaren and Mercedes Benz for giving me a wonderful opportunity, and my family who came here and supported me, and the all the people back home as well. Without them I wouldn't be doing this.

Q. We almost couldn't stand to watch the last laps, how was it being in the car?

LH: My heart was about to explode. I don't know how I kept my cool, I was very fortunate, especially the last lap. It has been my dream.

Q. How will you celebrate your first world championship?

LH: I am going to celebrate with my family. We will party together as a team, that's for sure.

Q. What are your thoughts on being world champion?

LH: I am struggling to say anything. I am just thankful and I am proud of the team around me that's given me the opportunity and I am just so thankful that I can return the favour. It was such a tough race, the toughest race of my life.

I had a problem with my tyres, they were beginning to grain. There was nothing I could do, I was just trying to keep the car on the track. My heart was in my mouth when I was trying to get back in front of Vettel, but fortunately there was an opportunity to get past Glock. I did what I needed to do. So we came, we saw, we did what we needed and we go away [laughs]

Q. What was your heartbeat level like in the car?

LH: I thought my heart was going to explode. I think everyone else was the same. I don't know what would have happened if I had lost out on the last lap.

My tyres were shot, I was on such a heavy fuel load at the time. Felipe Massa did a fantastic job today, congratulations to him for his win and for challenging me all year. But it is great to be on top.

Q. When it was wet at the end and Vettel got past you, what were you thinking? 'That's it, it's all over'?

LH: I don't know what happened, my tyres began to grain and I just slid wide. There was nothing I could do, I didn't outbrake myself or anything.

Q. It was amazing really, because you should have been quite quick at that point in the wet.

LH: I don't know whether I took too much out of my tyres in the beginning, but my car was getting weaker and weaker throughout the race so I was just trying to bring it home.

Q. Did you see Glock in front of you, did you know you were passing Glock?

LH: I was told he was just ahead. I didn't know how far, but I knew he was on slicks. I was just praying that I would be able to get close to him, and I couldn't believe it when I could see him on the exit of Turn 10. He was just there and I wasn't close enough, but I managed to get up the inside of him.

Q. Can you describe your emotions right now, put them into words?

LH: No I don't think I can. I'm very emotional. I've cried. My heart's feeling so much strain right now, and I think that was the same for everyone. I am just proud of the team and my family as well.

Q. Lewis is it special to win the championship here in Brazil?

LH: Oh for sure. On Senna's home ground, it would always be special.