Lewis Hamilton leaves the partying for later

ABU DHABI, (Reuters) – Graham Hill would doubtlessly have done it differently.

Where James Hunt might have staggered dishevelled into the morning after the night before, probably clutching bottles in both hands on the way to bed, Lewis Hamilton celebrated his second Formula One title yesterday with bright eyes and a spring in his step.

A glass of watermelon juice, and a few sips of “some kind of Cognac thing”, was sufficient carousing for Britain’s first multiple champion since Jackie Stewart.

One of only four Britons, including the late Hill, to have won the title twice, Hamilton said his achievement had yet to sink in.

“I feel fresh, I only had one drink last night, which is more than good enough for me,” the Mercedes driver told a breakfast news conference.

“I don’t drink Champagne. I had a watermelon juice at dinner, which is my favourite. Then when I was at the party there was some kind of Cognac thing … but it didn’t taste very nice. So I had a couple of sips and that was it. I knew I had to be up early as well.”

If the early hour was not greeted with universal delight, there were no complaints from the man of the moment.