Lewis Hamilton has stressed that he will not rest on his laurels despite opening a 67-point title advantage in this year’s Formula 1 title fight.
Hamilton’s points lead has grown from 14 to 67 after taking four successive Grands Prix victories, while rival Sebastian Vettel has encountered setbacks.
Hamilton can clinch the title at next weekend’s United States Grand Prix if he outscores Vettel by eight points, meaning he will do so if he wins and Vettel is third or lower.
“I am very, very, very strict on not being complacent with our position,” he said.
“Still there’s 100 points available, and I know that we still have to continue doing the job that we’re doing now, I believe, right until the last flag, so that’s the goal.
“Also knowing just from past experiences that so much can happen.”
Hamilton also expressed slight disappointment at the nature in which the title fight has appeared to ebb away, having fought Ferrari tooth-and-nail in Italy.
“When we were having the race like Monza — for me, I loved that race,” he said.
“I would’ve been happy to have had that every race following that. I honestly thought that we were going to have that.
“I thought that was how it was going to be being that they were so strong at the previous two races.
“But they just lost a lot of performance, and then it’s been obviously a little bit difficult for them. Of course I would love to have the race right to the end.
“Every single race I want battles like Monza and like — where else have they been? Other ones that have been like that. Those are the races that I love, and I would welcome them more and more, but unfortunately it just isn’t the case.
“I can’t let that take away from the great job that we’re doing and from our happiness.”
Discussion about this post