LEW’S REVVED UP FOR GLORY
LEWIS HAMILTON is desperate to clinch his fourth world championship with a victory.
The Mercedes racer just needs fifth place at the Mexican Grand Prix on Sunday to be beyond the reach of his only rival, Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel.
But Hamilton, 32, who will become the most successful British driver of all time if he triumphs, admitted: “I plan to win. I’m not here for anything else but No.1.
“It is true that I only need to finish fifth. But I think to myself, ‘How would I feel if I was to finish fifth and win the world championship?’ It wouldn’t feel great.”
Hamilton won his first drivers’ title with McLaren in 2008 by finishing fifth in the last race of the season in Brazil with an overtake on the last corner of the final lap.
On Sunday, he could pass Sir Jackie Stewart to become Britain’s first four-time champion, and insisted: “I want to be on the top of the podium.
“As a racing driver, you constantly want to show your performance and your strength and you never want that to waiver. So that’s my goal this weekend. It’s going to be difficult I think... a lot closer between Red Bull and Ferrari and us. But I love that.
“I’m very, very proud to raise the British flag every time I’m on the podium.
“And to be up there with the greats, now potentially one step ahead of the greats in the UK, it’s beyond my dreams and my family’s wildest dreams.”