Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP looks on next to Kimi Raikkonen of Finland and Ferrari at a press conference.

DPA
Austin, Texas


Lewis Hamilton can secure back-to-back Formula One world titles on Sunday simply by winning the United States Grand Prix ahead of Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg.
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.
Hamilton leads the way with 302 points and is 66 points ahead of Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel and 73 clear of Rosberg. A win is worth 25 points and there are four races left in 2015.
Hamilton will clinch his third title after 2008 and 2014 if he wins his 43rd career race ahead of Rosberg and Vettel. If he wins the only scenario to keep the title race open would be Vettel placing second.
The Briton has won two of the past three races on the spectacular 5,513-kilometres Circuit of the Americas, and boosted by his success at the last race in Russia two weeks wants to get another Stetson hat to go with the Russian fur cap from Sochi.
“I’m excited to get out there, give my best and if I can come away with a third Stetson hat that would be unbelievable,” Hamilton said.
Mercedes wrapped up successive constructors’ titles in Sochi but Hamilton said the looming drivers’ crown will not get him carried away and make him take unnecessary risks.
“I’ve learned from experience that nothing is ever done until it’s done in this sport, so I won’t be taking anything for granted going into the weekend,” he said.
“I’m going into this next race with the same approach I’ve had all year. There are four races left for me to get this championship tied up and as long as it’s done by the time I cross the line in Abu Dhabi that’s what really counts.”
Rosberg’s hopes of snatching the title all but ended in an early retirement in Russia, and he admits that it will take a miracle to prevail after playing second fiddle to his team-mate most of the season.
“With four races left and a big gap to Lewis, it’s clear that the title is a long shot for me now,” Rosberg said.
“But it’s not in me to give up or back down, so I’ll be pushing flat out to the end and hopefully having some fun out there in the final few rounds this year.”
Vettel placed second in Sochi to pass Rosberg in the championships and holding on to it would be a huge success for the 2013 Austin winner in his debut season at Ferrari.
The drivers’ title appears all but impossible but Mercedes motorsport chief Toto Wolff warned his men not to do anything silly and underestimate the four-time champion Vettel.
“There is still a third party in the mix and we, as a team, must make absolutely sure that our drivers have everything they need to make sure it’s a Silver Arrow that comes out on top,” Wolff said.
The three-time season winner Vettel said in Russia that the main focus after a good recovery campaign in 2015 isd to attack Mercedes next year.
“Currently they are still a bit ahead, but I think we are doing a very good job. We are focusing on ourselves and gaining step by step, getting a bit closer, so I think we are in a good direction and hopefully next year we can be closer,” Vettel said.

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