"It's a perfect balance of being aggressive and cautious at the same time," says on-form Mercedes driver ahead of four GPs in five weeks
Monday 2 October 2017 14:38, UK
Lewis Hamilton says he will stay true to the approach which has taken him into a 28-point lead of the World Championship heading into the deciding six races of 2017.
The Mercedes driver's hat-trick of wins since the summer break has turned what was a 14-point deficit to Sebastian Vettel into an advantage in excess of one race victory.
And heading to a pivotal run of four races in the next five weeks in first Asia and then North America, Hamilton insists he "definitely won't change anything".
"Because it's working," he added after claiming a surprise win in Singapore.
"It's a perfect balance of being aggressive and cautious at the same time. So, the formula works at the moment, so I'll just continue with it. Right to the last race."
Despite Hamilton's growing championship momentum, the title battle could yet turn again over the next month when there are a total of 100 points are up for grabs across a pair of back-to-back races, Malaysia-Japan and USA-Mexico.
After Vettel crashed out on the opening lap last week, Hamilton is now only one of two drivers on the grid with a 100 per cent finishing record in 2017. The other driver is Force India's Esteban Ocon.
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With his Mercedes car also proving reliable, Hamilton has matched his best career run of 19 consecutive points finishes with his last retirement coming via an engine blow-up while leading in Malaysia last year.
"Coming from last year, for example, where there were lots of mistakes, this is a year I try to make sure that, if I'm going to grow anywhere, in any space, that's going to be it," he said.
"And focus on not making any mistakes seems to be working."
Hamilton returns to the scene of his last retirement expecting Mercedes' car to again suit the fast sweeps of Sepang, although he is expecting the battle with Ferrari - and, on certain circuits, Red Bull - to remain fierce.
"We have Malaysia, I think we should be OK. Then we have Japan, high downforce circuit; could be close, Red Bulls are very, very strong at that circuit. It won't definitely be our strongest circuit and then we've got Mexico.
"Austin, I think we'll be fine. I think Brazil would be a place where these guys [Red Bull] will be particularly strong. Ferrari will be particularly strong. Honestly, I think it's going to be very close in the next races."
