LEWIS HAS PEDAL TO THE METAL
No easing up in title race
LEWIS HAMILTON won’t ease off in his bid to land a fifth world title, a feat which would see him equal ‘Formula One Godfather’ Juan Manuel Fangio.
Victory for Hamilton in Sunday’s US Grand Prix would see the Brit crowned champion again if Sebastian Vettel finishes third or lower.
With the prospect of matching the Argentine’s tally of five titles, with only Michael Schumacher ahead on seven, Hamilton said: “Fangio is like the godfather of the sport for us drivers.
“He’s one of the greats from the beginning. It is crazy to think I am embarking on a similar number of championships that he had.”
Hamilton, the only driver to win a race in every year he has competed in F1, is not approaching this weekend in Austin thinking about becoming world champion again.
He said: “It just feels like another race weekend we want to win.
“It is a simple goal, to arrive and try to do the same thing. The weather is up and down and the goal is to have the same performance as in previous races.” Hamilton is 67 points clear of Vettel, with a maximum of 100 available over the remaining four races.
The Mercedes driver has blown away Ferrari’s Vettel in winning six of the last seven races. But Hamilton added: “We expect Ferrari to punch back hard here this weekend. As a team we are focused on making sure we deliver. “We can’t be complacent, we can’t be relaxed. We have to come here and raise the bar again.
“I don’t need more pressure, I’m just trying to focus on how I have driven all year. It is going to be a tricky weekend. Nothing is a given.” Hamilton has arrived in Texas in confident mood. If he is feeling any nerves, then he isn’t showing them.
He said: “I feel more relaxed than I have ever felt.
“I know what I need to focus on. I’m really to eager to enjoy it and optimise my time in the car.
“I feel very chilled. Maybe it hasn’t sunk in yet.” Vettel, who has not finished in the top two in the past four races, knows his title dream has all but vanished but said: “I always try to win. You have to be aggressive to win.
“It is pretty clear. We need to be quick enough to win the races and then it depends on what the other side is doing. “I know what to do. We know we need to take a bit more risk here or there. “We are not in a position to manage a gap in the championship because we do not have a gap.”