AUSTIN POWERS
Rocket Man Lewis visits NASA before his Texas bid to become Britain’s best-ever F1 driver..
LEWIS HAMILTON was a Rocket Man this week, tomorrow he can move into a different orbit. If the Mercedes driver can earn 16 points more than rival Sebastian Vettel around the US Grand Prix circuit in Texas, he will become world champion for the fourth time. It will make him Britain’s greatest Formula 1 driver, surpassing the mark of three-time champion Sir Jackie Stewart (below). And he will join the rarified company of Vettel and Alain Prost, one behind Juan Manuel Fangio, and three behind seven-time winner Michael Schumacher. Hamilton visited NASA’S Johnson Space Centre in Houston before getting down to business, and the first practice session suggested he will once again be on a different planet to the rest of the grid. However, the 32-year-old insists talk of him winning the title this weekend in Austin is “silly”, although, if he takes the chequered flag for the fifth race out of the last six, and Vettel finishes lower than sixth, the job will be done. The arrival at the track of Hamilton’s mother Carmen – her first visit to a race this season – and brother Nicolas, suggests they believe there could be a memorable end in sight tomorrow. There will be another chance next Sunday in Mexico, and Hamilton said: “I don’t mind if it happens in Mexico. I don’t mind if it happens here. I don’t mind if it happens at the last race in Abu Dhabi, as long as it happens.” Vettel has suffered breakdowns, grid penalties and accidents in recent weeks, but Hamilton said: “If I was to win this championship, I think I would say that I’ve earned it. “Vettel has been a strong fighter all year and, just because he has had a few technical issues, their car is as good as it has always been. “I anticipate they’ll be very strong this weekend, so that’s why nothing changes for me. I’ve still got to continue to keep the pressure on. “I have just got to keep pushing forwards.” New Zealander Brendon Hartley collected a grid penalty before even stepping into the car for his debut. The 27-year-old, taking the place of Pierre Gasly at Toro Rosso, will have a drop of at least 25 places due to power unit changes.