What started as a sprint ended in a procession as Lewis Hamilton sealed a second successive Formula One drivers’ title with victory in the US Grand Prix. Hamilton, who has now equalled British motor racing legend Sir Jackie Stewart’s three titles, expertly saw off his nearest challengers Nico Rosberg and Sebastian Vettel in Austin, Texas, to confirm his standing as the pre-eminent driver of his era. “This is the greatest moment of my life,” said Hamilton, scrabbling valiantly for superlatives to do justice to another season of merciless dominance for Mercedes, which had already sealed the constructors’ title. With three races still to go, F1’s big challenge will now be to drum up some sort of interest in the remainder of the season.
All Blacks v Wallabies in final
Twickenham stadium will be abuzz with trans-Tasman black and gold when New Zealand and Australia face off in the Rugby World Cup final. Defending champions New Zealand edged past South Africa in a bone-jarring 20-18 win, while Australia negotiated a tricky-looking semi-final against surprise package Argentina, Adam Ashley-Cooper scoring a hat-trick of tries in a 29-15 victory that sent the Wallabies to their first final in 12 years. “I feel a huge pain but it is not over for us,” reflected Argentina coach Daniel Hourcade afterwards, already looking towards a bronze final against South Africa. “To finish third in the World Cup would mean a lot to us.”
Villa sack Sherwood
The long winter nights drew in on Premier League football and swiftly closed the curtains on Aston Villa’s manager Tim Sherwood after a 2-1 home defeat by Swansea, which left his side anchored to the foot of the table. “The club is in a hole,” Sherwood surmised perceptively in a statement that would turn out to be his last as Villa manager; former Arsenal player Rémi Garde was among those tipped to take his place. Chelsea’s miserable title defence continued with a 2-1 defeat at West Ham in which manager José Mourinho surpassed recent temper tantrums by getting himself sent off at half-time. Manchester City topped the table after a goalless derby against Manchester United.
Mets and Royals in Series
Major League Baseball meandered towards the World Series, where last year’s beaten finalists Kansas City Royals will get a second bite at the cherry when they face the New York Mets. In the AL Championship, the Royals put paid to the hopes of a resurgent Toronto Blue Jays who had fought back unexpectedly to take the best-of-seven series to six games. The Mets, meanwhile, made it to their first Fall Classic in 15 years with a clean sweep of the Chicago Cubs for the NL pennant.
