Austin, Texas - Lewis Hamilton spent Sunday night at Pete’s Dueling Bar in East Sixth Street, Austin.
The original idea at this kind of establishment is that pianists sit on two baby grands and compete to play fastest and best. It was the closest thing to a duel the new triple world champion has experienced all year.
But before he went to the bar he sat down calmly, his dog Roscoe by his side, and breathed in one of those rare moments in the life of a top-level sportsman when their job is done and there is a brief pause before the next stage of an otherwise relentless journey.
There was only one area of contention in town: the rare truculence of Nico Rosberg. When Hamilton tossed his Mercedes team-mate the cap he was meant to wear for the podium rituals, he threw it back at him, with interest.
Why? “It’s the worst thing being my team-mate,” said Hamilton with a smile. “It’s not good.”
He had not only just beaten Rosberg at the American Grand Prix to become the first British driver to win consecutive titles, but outclassed him so brutally all season that the German looks destined to be Hamilton’s No 2 as long as they drive for the same team.
LEWIS “NOT BOTHERED”
A measure of the disparity is that Rosberg lies third in the standings despite driving the championship’s superior car.
Speaking about the pre-podium incident, Hamilton said: “I picked up the three caps and mine was at the back, the one with No 1 on the side, so I gave one to Sebastian (Vettel, who was third) and one to Nico (who was second). I said, ‘Here you go mate’, and then it came back at me. I can understand in many respects how it is. It was tough.
“He was disappointed with himself for making a crucial mistake. I guess that, when you come in after the race and are disappointed, the emotions are sometimes unbearable. I don’t take anything from it. I’ve seen Nico in lots of different lights over the years.
“So the hat came past me and I was like, ‘No problem’. I’m completely oblivious to it.”
MERCEDES TO INTERVENE AGAIN
Mercedes principal Toto Wolff has said he will sit his drivers down to talk through the conflagrations of the day, which included Rosberg being angry at how aggressively Hamilton pushed him wide at the opening corner.
It was a tough move, yes. For the team, too tough, Wolff said. Hamilton, however, defended himself. Talks? “No need,” he said. “Everyone has a right to his own opinion but it doesn’t matter because I won the race so I feel pretty good about it.”
Whatever their differences, Hamilton and Rosberg were both in Pete’s Dueling Bar. Mercedes had booked the top floor and were ready to celebrate winning the constructors’ title regardless of whether Hamilton had managed to wrap up the title here, with three races to spare.
Downstairs were hundreds of fans. They chanted for Hamilton, who appeared at the balcony to wave to them. Rosberg sang the night away, going on to the stage downstairs to join in, appropriately enough, with Bon Jovi’s Livin’ On A Prayer.
LEWIS DRINKING MORE
When Hamilton won his second title in Abu Dhabi last November he celebrated with nothing stronger than watermelon juice. He says that has all changed, painting himself as the party animal of the western world.
“Until last year I didn’t really drink a lot. It’s changed a lot this year,” he said. “You would be really proud if you knew how much I consumed.
“The next couple of months is party time. I’ve got my mum’s 60th coming up, I’ve got friends’ events coming up, I’ve got more races to win, we’ve got the team end-of-year party, we’ve got Stars and Cars (a Mercedes event in Stuttgart).
“Jeez, man, I’ve got to get some good sleep because there’s going to be a lot of partying.”
NEWFOUND FREEDOM
Hamilton is enjoying the freedom Mercedes allow him to live his life as he pleases, in contrast to the control exercised over him at McLaren and by his father Anthony.
“It’s just work hard, play hard,” he said. “I’ve struck a really nice balance. At some points you think, ‘This is on the limit’, and then I get in the car and drive the way I do. I don’t know if it’s a James Hunt thing - it’s different.
“I’m a bit tired sometimes then I turn up, I get energy from the fans, I get energy from the team, I get in the car and I feel great. I don’t see any reason to change. It’s a really positive lifestyle. I travel like crazy, which I like.”
Next stop Mexico, for a lap of honour.
Daily Mail