by Our Sports Desk

LEWIS HAMILTON spoke of his joy at matching hero Ayrton Senna’s haul of three world championships yesterday, after a thrilling win in Austin on Sunday night secured his lead.

Teammate Nico Rosberg had looked to upset Hamilton’s coronation after securing pole position for the US Grand Prix but an unforced error with seven laps to go saw Hamilton pounce and snatch victory from his fuming rival.

The win means that Hamilton has become the first British driver to successfully defend his grand prix crown and he joins an elite group of just 10 drivers who have won the Formula One championship more than three times.

Only four other drivers have won the title on four or more occaisions — Michael Schumacher, Juan Manuel Fangio, Alain Prost and Sebastian Vettel — but joining them was not Hamilton’s aim.

“For me it was always to get the three that Ayrton had,” said Hamilton when asked if he had set his sights on emulating Schumacher’s record tally of seven titles.

“He wasn’t from the same country as me but he was the guy that inspired me as a youngster. Now I’m like: ‘I don’t know where it’s going next.’ There is no-one else I look to, that I want to equal or emulate now.”

Hamilton, who surpassed his boyhood hero Senna’s tally of 41 career victories in Russia earlier this month, added: “I feel like I’ve got the baton now for myself and Ayrton and I’m going to carry it as far as I can, as strong as I can and keep building and see where I take it.

“As a kid, I just wanted to be world champion and so it’s kind of crazy to think that me and Ayrton, in terms of championships, stand on the same line which is just the greatest.”

Hamilton can now head to the final three rounds in Mexico, Brazil and Abu Dhabi safe in the knowledge his third championship is in the bank.

It is a different sensation for the Briton, whose two previous triumphs have been determined at season finales in Abu Dhabi last year and in Brazil in 2008.

“The first I won 17 seconds before the end of the race, and obviously last year it was amazing but it took a lot out of us,” said Hamilton added.

“This one still feels just as special, if not more special. I think this has to have topped last year for me, being as it’s equalling Ayrton.”