Hamilton is ‘prepared for war’ in Japan

Lewis Hamilton says he is preparing to “go to war” in his “stubborn” Mercedes car here this weekend.

The championship front-runner added that he was “not at all comfortable” with his 34-point cushion over Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel and would not be driving any more defensively given his lead. Hamilton, 32, has increased his advantage over Vettel from three points to 34 in the space of just two races thanks to his win in Singapore and second place in Sepang last weekend.

However, the three-time world champion is well aware that the Ferrari was the quicker car at both circuits and it is only the Maranello team’s profligacy which has allowed him to steal a march in the title race. With five grands prix remaining, there are potentially 125 points available to Vettel, and Hamilton said he was not feeling the least bit complacent.

“I am under no illusion,” he said ahead of Sunday’s Japanese GP. “I might have the nail a little bit in, but I need to keep hammering it. It is not done until there is no more to push it in. Basically prepare for war. That’s what I try to do, make sure I’m the best prepared I can be.”

Vettel will not, after all, have to switch gearboxes following his post-race shunt with Williams’ Lance Stroll which would have cost him five places on the grid this weekend. And the German said yesterday that he felt he still “had a chance” in this championship.