Hamilton could wrap up his third Drivers’ Championship title this weekend at the United States Grand Prix.
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Vettel reckons he still has it in his hands and proved it yesterday by topping the time sheets in yesterday’s rain-hit first practice session, 1.7 seconds ahead of his fith placed British rival, with Vettel sixth.
“Obviously if you look at just this race in isolation, for sure it’s not great news but then you have to look at the whole project, the whole season and it was always the plan to have a fresh engine until the end of the season (from) here”, added the German.
Hamilton has dominated Formula One this season and if, as expected, he claims his 10th win of the campaign here on Sunday, and Vettel is only third or lower, he will be crowned champion with three races to spare.
“I never thought about finishing third”, the Mercedes driver said in Austin. “I don’t know why but I haven’t had any time with him” – but he does not deride Hamilton’s ability behind the wheel, despite the cars being vastly different to 40 years ago.
‘I want to win the race and that’s all, ‘ says Hamilton, and not only to guard against being mentally overwhelmed by the wider context of his mission. We’ll see, but it could make it an easier weekend.
The wet conditions caught a number of drivers out under braking for a few of the slower corners, but Felipe Massa was the only one to spin off after losing control of his Williams at Turn 9. I sat at Christmas thinking it could not get any better than a year ago.
File picture shows Mercedes Formula One driver Nico Rosberg of Germany driving in the pit lane after he had a problem with his vehicle during the Russian F1 Grand Prix in Sochi October 11, 2015. “There’s always been just small margins between us”, said Hamilton.
The omens are good as dominant Mercedes have secured eight one-two finishes from 15 season races, and of those Hamilton was top of the podium on six occasions. It’s hard to predict how any campaign might pan out but I think Lewis genuinely expects to have a tough time of it. With the resurgence of Ferrari, that may happen, so we could be on the verge of something special.
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The 2014 GP2 champion has been the team’s reserve driver this year, but will be promoted to a race seat next season, the team confirmed in a statement. Only four drivers – Michael Schumacher, Juan Manuel Fangio, Alain Prost and Sebastian Vettel – have won more. ‘I was so hungry to meet people more important than I was or had more experience. “But I don’t care whether it is this weekend or next weekend or Abu Dhabi”. “The animal is still the same as when I was racing”, Stewart said.
