Lewis Hamilton has 'no expectations' as he bids to seal fourth world title in Mexico

Lewis Hamilton has insisted he is putting the world championship title to the back of his mind despite being just nine points away from glory.

Lewis Hamilton has 'no expectations' as he bids to seal fourth world title in Mexico

Lewis Hamilton has insisted he is putting the world championship title to the back of his mind despite being just nine points away from glory.

The 32-year-old Englishman needs to finish only fifth in Mexico City on Sunday to join an elite band of Formula One drivers to have won more than three championships.

Michael Schumacher holds the record with seven titles to his name. Juan Manuel Fangio won five championships, while Alain Prost and Sebastian Vettel - Hamilton's rival this season - have four.

The Mercedes driver has been in sensational form since the summer break - winning five of the six grands prix - and has moved 66 points clear of Ferrari's Vettel to stand on the verge of greatness.

But Hamilton, who spent the early part of this week in Los Angeles following his success at the United States Grand Prix before travelling down to Mexico City on Wednesday, has refused to get caught up in the drama of sealing a fourth crown.

"I've not really thought about it to be honest," Hamilton said. "I am not really sure why.

"I have just been enjoying the moments from the last race and the great response from the team. I have been focussing on doing the same again.

"I am planning to do all I can to win the title, but I have no expectations. I just plan to drive as well as I can and I hope it turns out all right."

The outcome of this year's title race was almost impossible to call before Vettel's campaign imploded in the Far East.

Sebastian Vettel
Sebastian Vettel

The German failed to finish two of the three grands prix, crashing out in Singapore before retiring from the race in Japan with an engine failure.

A defiant Vettel, however, insists he has not given up on trying to stop Hamilton from winning the championship and wants to finish the season in style.

"Firstly, it is not over," Vettel, who hasn't won a race since July's Hungarian Grand Prix, said. "Obviously it is not as much in our hands as we would like it to be, but overall it has been a good year.

"The real pity was that there were a couple of races where we just were not there to fight and we didn't have a chance to fight. They got away for us and we were just sitting on the sidelines so that was bitter.

"We still have a chance - we want to win the last three races and I think we can - so that is our goal and we will see what happens."

more courts articles

Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother
Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van
Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman

More in this section

Manchester City v Liverpool FC - Premier League S Larry Ryan: Should we let coach Klopp write his own ending?
Donegal v Tyrone - Ulster GAA Football Senior Championship Semi-Final Cork vs Mayo game switched from Mallow, Fermanagh vs Armagh rescheduled
Cork v Kerry - Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 1 Limerick forced to move National Hurling League game from Gaelic Grounds
ieStyle Live 2021 Logo
ieStyle Live 2021 Logo

IE Logo
Outdoor Trails

Discover the great outdoors on Ireland's best walking trails

IE Logo
Outdoor Trails

Sport
Newsletter

Latest news from the world of sport, along with the best in opinion from our outstanding team of sports writers

Sign up
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited