Lewis Hamilton: "I feel that I have done my best this year" | sport

Lewis Hamilton was still trying to understand the magnitude of his success at becoming a five-time world champion after winning the title at the Mexican Grand Prix. The British driver felt that he had done his best to face the stiff opposition of Ferrari and Sebastian Vettel, while the German admitted that they simply had not been good enough.

After his fourth place, Hamilton said he was still fighting for the title. "It's difficult to achieve at the moment," he conceded. "I was dreaming but I never thought I would be five times world champion."

The 33-year-old Juan Manuel Fangio, who won his fifth World Championship title, is now in his 12th season in the sport and felt stronger than ever, but effortless.

"This is definitely the best year I feel," he said. "It was the goal when I won the championship last year. I asked how can I improve? How can I be more fit, more focused, better manage my time? How can I be a better driver in all areas, not just in the car, but with my team in the garage, with the engineers and in the factory.

"I think this year, I've been able to meet them all. I do not know if it goes with age but I'm sure the experience will help me and I feel I have done my best this year. "

Vettel and Ferrari made mistakes this season, which cost them a mistake and he admitted they did not get the best of what was sometimes the best car in the pack.

"I've had three times in my life that disappointment in a day when you realize you can not win the championship anymore," he said. "These are not happy days, so you do not think about a moment but the year. Yes, we had our chances and we used some of them, but we did not do it and in the end we were not good enough. "

The four-time world champion, Alain Prost, also praised Hamilton. "He is the best, or one of the best of this generation. it is exceptional, "he said. "It was impossible to beat him this year."

Mercedes technical director James Allison, although he admitted that the race was difficult for the team, was also generous in his praise. "It means everything to him; he's totally focused on that, "he said. "He has five now and it could be his first as well.

"He comes every weekend with the urge to put it in front of others and I'm sure it will be the same season. This is how he defines himself and is not happy until he has done so. "