Lewis Hamilton says he has no desire to aim to finish fifth in Mexico, even though it would guarantee him a fourth title no matter where rival Sebastian Vettel finishes.
Hamilton has a 66-point lead over Vettel and therefore, with two races remaining after Mexico, needs to leave with a 50-point lead. To do so, a fifth-place finish would crown Hamilton the champion even if Vettel wins the event, but winning the race is what's on Hamilton's mind.
"I want to win the right way!" Hamilton told the official Formula 1 website. "I thought about that [finishing fifth], yes. But to tell the truth I have no desire to finish fifth to win the world championship.
"When it is true that you are only as good as your last race, I want to show every single race what I am capable of. So the dream is to stand at the top spot of the podium this weekend – having won the championship! That would be a very proud moment."
The Briton however is wary of the challenge Ferrari and Red Bull could pose this weekend with the higher altitude and twistier circuit favouring his rivals.
"It will be a tougher weekend for us – that is my impression without having done any track time," added Hamilton. "But then the last weekend we had not anticipated being as strong as we actually were, so let's see.
"This is definitely a tougher course. The high altitude, plus the cars being faster this year, could play a role but I also expect this weekend to be more fun than it has been in the past with the lower donwforce. The car should be three seconds faster and that should make for a brilliant race."
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