Papers revel in Hamilton triumph

Lewis Hamilton's Formula One victory dominates the headlines on Monday.

"Lap of the Gods," is how the Times describes his final circuit to clinch the championship title.

"It was the culmination of two years of brilliant driving and a short lifetime utterly dedicated to the task," sports writer Simon Barnes says.

Driving legend Stirling Moss heaps praise on Hamilton in the Daily Mail. "He is a credit to his family, his sport and his country," he says.

'Good omen'

"Phew, Lew," says the Sun, after the British driver left it until the dying seconds to secure victory. "Lewis is a once-in-a-generation phenomenon."

The Daily Star agrees it was the "most dramatic championship finale ever".

"Lew beauty!" writes the Daily Mirror. The paper hopes it might be a "good omen" for another big race.

"A young, charismatic black man has shown resilience, skill and determination to win against the odds. Now roll on Barack Obama," it writes.

Winning 'squeak'

With just hours to go until the polls open, newspaper columnists discuss the US presidential election.

The Independent's Johann Hari is optimistic for Obama, but says he won't relax until "I hear the Statue of Liberty let out a slow sigh of relief".

Janet Daley in the Daily Telegraph says Obama will win by a "squeak" despite being "the most inexperienced, untried and virtually unknowable candidate" ever.

But Michael Tomasky in the Guardian says "liberal paranoia is a-boil" among voters who think McCain will "steal" it.

Runners beans

The Daily Express has a list of unflattering secret words and acronyms used by GPs to describe their patients.

"Pumpkin" is apparently code for someone brainless because if you shine a torch in their mouth, their whole head would light up.

Also on the subject of vegetables, the Times says Mayor Boris Johnson wants to use London's rooftops to grow enough food for all the athletes at the 2012 Olympic Games.

"Is that possible," the paper wonders, "Given that a swimmer such as Michael Phelps eats up to 12,000 calories a day?"