Mercedes non-executive chairman Niki Lauda believes it is now too late for Lewis Hamilton to catch Nico Rosberg barring any reliability troubles for the German.
Hamilton currently trails Rosberg by 33 points and although there are four races remaining and 100 points on offer, Lauda is confident Rosberg will win the championship unless he runs into similar reliability troubles that have cost Hamilton so many points this year.
"Nico is doing everything right at the moment," said the Austrian. "If everything is going normal, the championship could be decided in the next few races, and Lewis won't be able to catch Nico any more. This is perfectly clear to me."
Rosberg could finish second to Hamilton in every remaining race and still win the title, such is his advantage. Therefore the championship is somewhat out of Hamilton's hands and that is why Lauda is predicting a first title for the German.
"It is only lost and won when the points are counted," he added, "but if nothing happens to either car, I don't think Lewis will be able to turn it around again."
Meanwhile Red Bull's Christian Horner recently said anyone ruling Hamilton out now would be foolish.
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