World Champion Lewis Hamilton has stressed that he will attack the remaining two Grands Prix with the same mindset, as he bids to help Mercedes secure the Constructors’ Championship.
Hamilton wrapped up the Drivers’ crown at the previous round in Mexico, the first time in the hybrid era that the individual battle has been sorted before the Constructors’ race has been sealed.
In previous years where Hamilton has secured the title with races to spare he has not won any of the remaining Grands Prix, admitting at 2017's finale in Abu Dhabi that he found it difficult to continue at the same intensity after clinching the crown.
Mercedes is 55 points ahead of Ferrari in the Constructors’ Championship and will be assured of a fifth straight title should it depart Brazil 43 clear.
“We still have the two races to go, so that’s really probably why it’s not sunk in,” Hamilton said of clinching his fifth title.
“I think because I’m still in the frame of mind that I have races to win and we still have a job to do. And the job isn’t done yet.
“The focus is now on making sure we secure the world title for the team, that’s the key, as we always talk about, over 1000 people are the factory working hard.
“That’s the one that means most to them, so that’s one I have to do, so I hope we can collectively do that this weekend or next.
“That’s generally the number one priority at the beginning of the year when we speak to the team, that’s what the guys really, really work for.
“And the bonus is if you can get the Drivers’ Championship as well.”
Hamilton described Mercedes’ performance at recent events in the US and Mexico as “shocking” but believes the team has largely been able to understand where it needs to improve.
“I think some of it’s [the deficit] still a mystery but I think there’s a lot of areas that we’ve understood,” he said.
“We come to another circuit which is quite hard on tyres, Brazil is always quite tough in that area, but we’ve not been terrible here.
“This track does work quite well with a more nimble [and] shorter car but I’m hoping this weekend we can get the car into the right place that we can fight the Red Bulls and Ferraris that have seem to come back more into shooting range.
“Red Bull’s dominance in the last race was impressive and I’m sure they’ll be quick here again this weekend, as will Ferrari, it’s going to take everything and more [to beat them].”
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