A beaming Hamilton said in Sao Paulo, Brazil – scene of his last-gasp Grand Prix triumph on Sunday: “I only had a couple of glasses of champagne.
“I just sat there and took it all in. It was a feeling you can’t put into words, to see how happy you have made everyone after all the hard work they have put in, and how satisfied they are. That was really my present last night, seeing all that.”
But he insisted that money is not his main motivation – despite being touted as potentially the sport’s first billionaire.
He said: “I’m comfortable in life but money doesn’t really appeal to me that much.
“It just so happens I get paid to do my hobby. It’s everything I love and it’s nice to be able to take care of my family. That’s all that really matters, so I’m happy.”
Looking to the future, he said he’d like to buy a house at some stage. But he added: “I have a nice apartment, drum kit, guitars. I don’t need anything more. My reward is winning the world championship. What else do I need?”
But he admitted there is one luxury he craves – the McLaren F1 LM supercar, of which only five were ever made.
To get his hands on it, he first has to win two more world titles after striking a bargain with team boss Ron Dennis when he first signed for McLaren.
He explained: “We made a deal, three world championships and the car is mine.”
“It was always my dream car,” he confessed. “Then I got signed up by McLaren. I went to the factory and saw it and ever since I’ve gazed at it every time I’ve walked past it.
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