Lewis Hamilton happy to ‘outsmart’ Nico Rosberg at United States GP

Lewis Hamilton said he "outsmarted" title rival Nico Rosberg on his way to making British racing history at the United States Grand Prix.

The 2008 world champion's win was his 32nd in F1, overtaking Nigel Mansell's total to set a new British record.

Hamilton passed team-mate Rosberg in Austin to open up a 24-point lead.

"It's not just about starting from pole. Races like this feel even better; you have to outsmart the guy ahead of you," Mercedes driver Hamilton said.

There are 75 points available in the final races in Brazil and Abu Dhabi. Hamilton could win the championship by finishing second to Rosberg in Brazil and Abu Dhabi but said he wanted to win both races.

His US victory was his 10th of the year. As well as setting a new landmark for British drivers, it also tied him with Fernando Alonso in fifth place overall in the list of grand prix winners. Only Michael Schumacher, Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna and Sebastian Vettel are ahead.

"It's a real honour to be on the list among the greats," Hamilton said.

"I'm very, very proud to now hold the record for the most Formula 1 wins for a British driver.

"I have to say, though, it's all thanks to the team and the car we have this year that I've been able to reach that landmark so quickly. This team has done an incredible job. It's the car I have dreamed of and I finally have it.

"It's been the best year of my life, and it's been the best season in my whole career. The performances I've been putting in, the consistency I've had, I've been working hard at it."

Mansell praised Hamilton for taking his record, saying: "Brilliant for Lewis and Merc.

"Nico put up a strong fight, but Lewis did a fantastic job. Many congratulations."

The Briton won by tracking Rosberg through to the first pit stops and then closed in and passed him with a late-braking move into the Turn 12 hairpin on lap 24.

"I have two races coming up and I am going to be attacking just like I have the last five or 10 races," Hamilton said.

"It was about really pushing and keeping the pressure on, so I was really attacking.

"He didn't really block that much. Maybe he wasn't expecting it.

"I could have braked a bit later but I didn't want him to cut back inside so I made sure I kept him on the outside all the time.

"There wasn't a moment in the race when I didn't think that I would get him."

Rosberg, who started from pole and has won four races this season, said he was disappointed to have lost in such a fashion.

"It sucks, it really does," he said. "But that's the way it is. It's the worst possible way to lose, getting passed like that, with the same car.

"I didn't find my rhythm, it took too long. I needed to get brake balance for each corner, and this and that and I was too late.

"Five or 10 laps after Lewis got by, I figured it out but then it wasn't possible. I tried to keep the pressure on, but it wasn't enough."

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