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Lewis Hamilton: World title success "doesn't feel real"

Mercedes driver and newly-crowned world champion Lewis Hamilton says that he is "grateful" to teammate Nico Rosberg for taking the Formula 1 title race to the wire.

Lewis Hamilton has praised Nico Rosberg for pushing him all the way in this year's Formula 1 drivers' championship.

The Mercedes duo have been locked throughout the last eight months, and the uniqueness of the double-points system meant that it was still all to play for heading into the final race of the season.

However, engine problems suffered by Rosberg ensured that his teammate opened up a hefty lead at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to secure his second world title crown.

Asked how he he felt following the triumph, which lifted him alongside Sir Jackie Stewart, Jim Clark and Graham Hill as the only Britons to win more than one F1 title, Hamilton told BBC Sport: "It doesn't register with me. It doesn't feel real.

"I had no idea how it would go. I woke up so early - 6am and I was thinking I had forever for the race. I knew anything could happen. I'm so happy for the energy people gave me, that made the difference.

"Today I don't know how but compared to 2008 I was so much more relaxed. I hoped that was a positive - and it was. I felt so composed. I wanted to battle to the end but will take what we had. Nico put on an incredible charge and I'm grateful I had a good battle."

Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas finished in second and third respectively, meanwhile, to complete a Williams podium double.

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Daniel Lewis
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Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP celebrates in Parc Ferme after winning the World Championship and the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit on November 23, 2014
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