Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has said that he is humbled to have matched Ayrton Senna's feat of winning three titles after his victory at the US Grand Prix.

The British driver held off the challenge of his Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg to secure a second consecutive season victory on Sunday, adding to his titles in 2008 and 2014.

The 30-year-old admitted said that he had remained confident throughout an up-and-down race that he could seal victory, but admitted that winning the championship for a third time was a humbling experience.

"It really is difficult to find the words," The Independent quotes him as saying. "My Dad and I drove home singing 'We are the champions' and it is scary to think that I am now a three-time world champion.

"I owe it all to my Dad and my family who sacrificed so much, it means so much for me to be here. I thought so many times that I had lost the race and Nico was really quick at one stage, but at no stage did I believe that I couldn't do it.

"It's a very humbling experience, especially to equal Ayrton Senna who meant so much to me and still does today. For any driver there is no further you can go when your ultimate goal is to win everything you compete for, and when you do win the world championship it signifies your greatness and the greatness of the people around you."

Hamilton won his third title with three races to spare to equal Jackie Stewart's British record of three world championship titles.