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Points gap to Vettel "unbelievable" - Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton has admitted he "could only have dreamed" of building his "unbelievable" championship lead over Sebastian Vettel with four races to go in the Formula 1 season.
Scott Mitchell
Edited: Oct 8, 2017, 11:17 AM
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The Mercedes driver claimed his fourth victory in five grands prix after Vettel retired early in Japan, to extend his advantage in the title fight to 59 points.
Hamilton trailed Vettel by 14 points at the summer break but four wins and a second place, allied with Vettel retiring twice and suffering more reliability woe in Malaysia, has handed him a commanding advantage with four races remaining.
"Honestly I can only have dreamed having this kind of gap," said Hamilton. Ferrari have put on such a great challenge all year long. My team has done a phenomenal job, the reliability is so on point.
"They are so meticulous and that is why we have the results and reliability we have."
With only 100 points now available, Hamilton could clinch his fourth F1 title as early as the next grand prix in the United States in two weeks' time.
Hamilton needs to extend his lead by 16 points at Austin to hold an unassailable advantage.
"It is kind of unbelievable to think that we are where we are," said the Briton. "I was excited to have a good race with Seb here, as I was last race, but obviously he has been incredibly unfortunate.
"In the world today, in F1, it is a lot about reliability – the whole performance and not just speed on track. The team has shown for many years now we have a solid platform.
"We are leaders in that area, so thanks to everyone at the factory in providing me a car where I can use my ability. There is still a long way to go, 100 points [still available], anything can happen in life and hopefully I can continue like this."
Hamilton said he initially felt vulnerable at the start because of "a bit of wheelspin" but had the race "pretty much under control" once Vettel slotted into second.
Max Verstappen passed Vettel on the opening lap and later chased Hamilton to the flag in a tense finish after Hamilton lost time lapping the battling Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso.
"I was trying to manage the pace and manage the tyres," he said. "It was the hottest the track had been all weekend and knowing Ferrari and Red Bulls were quick in the race it was so important in those [early] moments I looked after the tyres.
"It got a bit close to the end. The [late-race] virtual safety car lost a lot of temperature in the tyres and waking them up wasn't easy. Then I got stuck behind Massa and Alonso.
"[I'd] never seen his car so big in the mirrors, it was very close with a couple of laps to go."
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