"There are four races left for me to get this championship tied up," insists Lewis ahead of first chance to wrap up 2015 crown in Austin
Tuesday 27 October 2015 17:19, UK
Lewis Hamilton insists his approach to the race weekend will not change despite a third world title - and a place in history - beckoning at the United States Grand Prix.
A 10th race win of the season in Austin will be enough for Hamilton to become a three-time world champion, and tie Sir Jackie Stewart's British record, if Ferrari rival Sebastian Vettel finishes no higher than third.
Hamilton's previous two titles, in 2008 and 2014, have been clinched in final round showdowns, therefore Sunday's race presents him the opportunity to wrap the crown up with the relative luxury of three races to spare.
The Mercedes driver, however, doesn't believe that it is imperative he closes out the 2015 title at the first attempt.
"I've learned from experience that nothing is ever done until it's done in this sport, so I won't be taking anything for granted going into the weekend," said Hamilton, who lost the title in his rookie year of 2007 at the last race despite holding what at once time had appeared an all-but unassailable lead over eventual champion Kimi Raikkonen.
"I'm going into this next race with the same approach I've had all year. There are four races left for me to get this championship tied up and as long as it's done by the time I cross the line in Abu Dhabi that's what really counts.
"I'm excited to get out there, give my best and if I can come away with a third Stetson hat that would be unbelievable."
Hamilton's record in the United States - and North America in general - certainly suggests the Briton will again be a difficult driver to beat. In four previous US GPs, one at Indianapolis in 2007 and the last three years at the Circuit of the Americas, Hamilton has won three times, while his CV also includes four victories in neighbouring Canada.
[Austin] is definitely one of the highlights of the year for me," he added. "I love the States and spend a lot of time over there, so it's a weekend I always look forward to."
Team-mate Nico Rosberg's aspirations of a first world championship, meanwhile, now almost certainly have to wait until at least 2016 after his retirement in Russia all-but knocked him out of the title race.
The German, who trails Hamilton by 73 points with just 100 to play for, has nonetheless outqualifed the sister car in the last two races and hopes to end the season by adding to his tally of three 2015 race wins.
"With four races left and a big gap to Lewis, it's clear that the title is a long shot for me now. But it's not in me to give up or back down, so I'll be pushing flat out to the end and hopefully having some fun out there in the final few rounds this year," Rosberg said.
"I really want to enjoy the next races, as our Silver Arrow is such a great car and gives me the chance to end the year with a few more wins."
Although Hamilton has proved near-unbeatable in race conditions this year, Rosberg's throttle failure while in the lead of the last race in Sochi highlighted again that the Mercedes W06, bullet-proof in the first half of the season, is not immune to reliability faults.
"Of course, there is still a third party [Vettel] in the mix and we, as a team, must make absolutely sure that our drivers have everything they need to make sure it's a Silver Arrow that comes out on top," warned team boss Toto Wolff.
"Two retirements from the last three races is not up to our standards and we must ensure that every little detail is covered to give them that opportunity."
