Motorsport-F1: Hamilton looking for repeat of Japan GP success
By Jens Marx, dpa

Fuji, Japan (dpa) - 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.

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."

© Copyright The Post Publishing Public Co., Ltd. 2006

Formula 1 World Championship Japanese Grand Prix

Hamilton: I'm older and wiser

1 hour ago

Lewis Hamilton believes he is a more mature driver than he was at this stage last season as he looks to move another step closer to securing the World Championship at the Japanese Grand Prix this weekend.

The McLaren star was victorious on an appallingly wet Fuji Speedway circuit last year to take a 12-point lead over then team-mate Fernando Alonso into the final two races - but he managed to collect just two more points, allowing Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen to overturn a 17-point gap and capture the title.

"I was leading [the championship] here but I didn't really understand the magnitude of the situation I was in and what was around me and the pressure that was on my shoulders. I dealt with it the best I could, but it wasn't the best," said Hamilton. "But I learned from those mistakes and I have come this year and I've taken a big step in my life as a grown up, while as a driver I have matured and worked as hard as I can to improve in all areas."

Hamilton is seven points clear of his closest rival, Ferrari's Felipe Massa, but with 30 points still at stake, BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica and defending champion Raikkonen are still mathematically in the hunt.

The duo are 20 and 27 points behind Hamilton respectively and consequently the 23-year-old is refusing to take anything for granted in the final three races.

"At this stage of the season I feel a lot stronger than I did last year in both my state of mind and my fitness," added Hamilton. "I was so exhausted last year.

"The way I see it a lot of drivers are challenging for the championship. There are 30 points available so he (Raikkonen) can still do it.

"I can't take it for granted as there are lots of points available."

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