Oct 9, 2008, 10:49 GMT
Fuji, Japan - Championship leader Lewis Hamilton heads into this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix holding a seven-point lead over nearest challenger Felipe Massa and looking to make up for the disappointment of letting last season's title slip away.
British Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton of McLaren Mercedes answers media questions at Fuji Speedway racing circuit near Gotemba in Japan on 09 October 2008. The Grand Prix of Japan will take place here on 12 October. EPA/FRANCK ROBICHON
The McLaren-Mercedes driver looked to have sealed the 2007 drivers' championship with an impressive win in atrocious conditions at the Fuji International Speedway in his rookie season last year but blew a 12-point lead in the final two races and was pipped to the crown by Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen.
This time around, Hamilton's third-place finish in the Singapore GP, together with Ferrari's Massa coming home in 13th spot after a pit stop disaster, means the 23-year-old can afford to play it safe as he can finish second to the Brazilian in the three remaining races and still be champion.
'I hate driving for points, but I think we can all see the benefit of that approach at the moment,' said Hamilton.
Ferrari have taken action to prevent any reoccurrence of Massa's Singapore catastrophe, when he departed from the pits with the fuel hose still attached, by binning its electronic pit release system and replacing it with the traditional lollipop man in Japan.
'It is a good system that still has potential. However, for the rest of this season, in the light of recent events, we have decided to revert to a conventional 'lollipop' for telling the driver when it is clear for him to go,' explained team principal Stefano Domenicali.
'Our target in Japan and also in the final two races will be to come away with maximum points,' he added.
For his part, Massa has put the disappointment of Singapore behind him and is focusing on the challenges ahead.
''There's still 30 points to fight for. We will definitely not give up. We will fight until the last lap of the last race. That's all I have on my mind now,' he said.
'First of all we need to think about reducing the seven points. Seven points can be nothing. Hopefully we can bounce back now and win races again.'
Renault's Fernando Alonso was the surprise winner in Singapore and the double world champion feels he could once again challenge at the front this weekend.
'We worked hard to develop some new parts for Singapore, but also for the final three races of the season so I think that we can be on the pace in Fuji,' said the Spaniard.
'However, I remain realistic as it will be difficult to race the Ferraris and McLarens.'
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