Lewis in dreamland after Japanese cheers
LEWIS HAMILTON says it is beyond belief that he finds himself closing in on a fourth world title after his victory at the Japanese Grand Prix.
The Mercedes driver held off a late surge from Max Verstappen to win in Suzuka and open up a 59-point gap on his main championship rival Sebastian 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.
He can claim the title in a fortnight at the US Grand Prix if he wins and Vettel finishes sixth or lower. Even second place would be enough for Hamilton if the German came home ninth.
In a season where he surpassed Michael Schumacher’s pole position record – this was his 71st time starting first – Hamilton can move onto four world titles.
That would make him 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.
Contrastingly, 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 can scarcely believe where he is positioned with just four races left.
“I think it is unbelievable really to think that we are where we are,” he said.
“I could only have dreamed of having this kind of gap. All I can really say is that 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 he is not about to let up.
“There is no need to change my approach,” he said. “I’m not taking crazy risks to be in the position I’m in.
“We will continue to try and keep doing what we are doing, there isn’t much more I can do, sometimes when you come off the gas a little you cause yourself more trouble than you need.”