AMERICAN DREAM
Lewis can seal fourth world crown in States after Suzuka triumph
LEWIS HAMILTON admits he can’t quite believe he is on the brink of claiming a fourth world title after victory at the Japanese Grand Prix.
The Briton can claim the drivers’ crown in a fortnight at the US Grand Prix if he wins and his main rival Sebastian Vettel finishes sixth or lower. Even second place would be enough for Hamilton if the German came home ninth.
Hamilton held off a late surge from Max Verstappen to win in Suzuka to open up a 59-point gap on Vettel who retired with a spark plug failure.
Verstappen finished a close second with Red Bull team-mate Daniel Ricciardo completing the podium but it was all about Hamilton here.
In a season where he surpassed Michael Schumacher’s pole position record – this was his 71st time starting first – Hamilton can move on to four world titles.
That would make the Mercedes driver the most decorated Briton in F1 history and move him into a category where only Schumacher (seven world titles), Juan Manuel Fangio ( five), Alain Prost ( four) and Vettel ( four) reside.
Just six weeks ago Vettel was top of the championship. Now he requires something special to happen if he is to claim his fifth crown. And Hamilton said: “It’s unbelievable to think we are where we are. I could only have dreamed of having this kind of gap. All I can really say is I have to put it down to my team. They’ve done a phenomenal job, reliability has really been on point. “There is still a long way to go, 100 points is a lot of points and anything can happen. I just need to keep my head down.” Hamilton secured his last title in Austin two years ago and has won the last three races at the Circuit of the Americas. He does not need to win another race between now and the season’s end to sew up the title but is not about to let up. He added: “To be honest I just don’t think there is a need to make any changes. I’m not taking crazy risks to be in the position I’m in.” Vettel’s spark plug problem was identified as his Ferrari was fired up in the morning and despite starting from second on the grid it was soon evident it would prove his undoing. He said: “We still have a chance. Obviously it’s not as much in our control as we like but overall the team is in a good way.”