Lewis predicts tough race

Brit driver looks to increase championship lead in Japan

Last updated: 8th October 2008

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Lewis Hamilton is hoping to repeat his stunning performance from last year's Japanese Grand Prix as he aims to increase his lead over Felipe Massa.

The Englishman leads championship rival Massa by only seven points with three races remaining and will be hoping to repeat last season's heroics.

"I hope we'll have just as competitive a weekend as we did here last year and I'm sure we'll be strong," Hamilton said.

"But it'll be a tough weekend for all of us and we'll just have to keep on pushing.

"It was a very eventful race last year. I hope, perhaps, the weather will be better.

"I feel a lot stronger than I was last year at this point of the year. I think there's going to be a good battle to the last race."

Massa will be aiming for a better race after suffering a nightmare in Singapore.

After qualifying on pole in front of Hamilton, he ended up finishing 13th after the petrol hose remained stuck in his Ferrari when the safety car was out, knocking down a member of the pit crew in the process.

Fight

Massa said: "I'm looking forward to having a strong weekend and really trying to win the race.

"We're still seven points behind but we still have 30 points in front of us.

"For sure, we're gonna do the best we can to fight until the last lap of the race. I think we still have a big possibility in front of us and we will not give up."

With cloudy conditions predicted and the constructor's championships still up for grabs, team tactics will come into place bringing Kimi Raikkonen and Heikki Kovalainen right in to the mix.

"For myself, it's more or less over," said Raikkonen. "But we still need the championship for the team. We'll try to get that one this year again."