Lewis Hamilton's Formula One championship winning drive attracted record television audience

Over two million people watched Hamilton claim his fifth world title at the Mexico Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton's drive to championship glory was watched by Sky Sports' biggest Formula One audience in over four years.

More than two million people tuned in to watch Hamilton, 33, emulate Juan Manuel Fangio by winning his fifth world title in Mexico last Sunday.

Although the figure is some way short of the staggering 12.5million that saw Hamilton win his maiden championship on the free-to-air ITV a decade ago, the race at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez was Sky's second-largest audience since they captured the F1 rights in 2012, and their greatest since the 2014 US Grand Prix.

The broadcaster is also understood to be reporting a five per cent year-on-year increase in viewing figures for the sport.

Lewis Hamilton's title winning drive was watched by more than two million people (Getty)

F1 sits second only to football as delivering the biggest audience numbers for Sky Sports over the course of a year.

Sky and Channel 4 have both hosted live races for the past three seasons, but the former will hold the UK's exclusive F1 rights from next year.

Channel 4 will however, continue to screen the British Grand Prix live, as well as airing highlights packages for the 20 additional races.

Despite their late time slot, Channel 4 attracted one million viewers for their highlights programme of Hamilton's coronation last Sunday.

The Englishman, who will return to official duty for Mercedes when he begins his victory parade at next weekend's Brazilian Grand Prix, is third favourite with the bookmakers to win next month's BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.

Hamilton, who won the prize in 2014 ahead of Rory McIlroy, is behind Tour de France winner, Geraint Thomas, and England captain Harry Kane in the running.

PA