Hamilton ‘not taking silly risks’ to seal 2017 F1 title

Lewis Hamilton says while he’s focused on fighting for race wins for Mercedes during the remainder of 2017 he accepts he won’t take risks to jeopardise his 59-point advantage at the top of the standings.

Mathematically Hamilton can seal a fourth F1 world title next time out at the United States Grand Prix if he wins and Sebastian Vettel finishes sixth or lower after the British driver claimed victory in Japan as his Ferrari rival was forced out with a broken spark plug.

With four races remaining to close out the 2017 championship, Hamilton is keen to use his healthy points advantage to steer himself to the drivers’ world title and isn’t looking to take huge risks for wins if it hampers his overall goal of securing the championship.

“I feel like I have a perfect balance on race weekends,” Hamilton said. “I guess my experience allows me to know when I have to push and when I have to hold back a little bit, and as you saw in Malaysia that’s what I do.

“I arrive at every race to win and I absolutely am not going to take silly risks. I’m sure you know I’m not one to take silly risks because I’m not often penalised for doing such things. I think it’s going to be fine.”

Hamilton sealed his last F1 world title in 2015 at the Circuit of the Americas in a similar circumstances when victory was enough to clinch the championship with three races to spare. Hamilton passed Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg in the closing stages of the race to win and take the title.