HIGHLIGHTS
• A 3rd win in 4 years at Circuit of Americas, would be enough for Hamilton to add a 3rd title
• Another crown for Hamilton would place him alongside Brabham, Stewart, Lauda, Piquet and Senna
• Alain Prost and Vettel each have four title wins while Fangio won five and Schumacher seven
Agencies
AUSTIN
Lewis Hamilton will emulate his childhood hero Ayrton Senna and join a select group of multiple Formula One drivers' world champions if he can outscore nearest rival Sebastian Vettel by nine points in Sunday's United States Grand Prix.
A third victory in four years at the Circuit of the Americas, with four-time champion Vettel outside the top two finishers, would be enough for the Mercedes star to add a third title to those of 2008 and 2014.
Hamilton's chances were boosted on Thursday when Vettel was handed a 10-place grid penalty after Ferrari introduced new engines for this weekend.
A third driver's crown for Hamilton would place him alongside Jack Brabham, Jackie Stewart, Niki Lauda, Nelson Piquet and Senna.
Alain Prost and Vettel each have four title wins while Juan Manuel Fangio won five and Michael Schumacher seven.
The 30-year-old Hamilton has won nine races this year for a total of 302 points, a lead of 66 ahead of Vettel, who has won three times to accumulate 236 points in his first season with Ferrari.
"If you look at just this race isolated, it's not great news," admitted Vettel after Ferrari changed their power units.
"But you have to look at the whole project, the whole season, and it was always the plan to have a fresh engine here for the rest of the year."
Both Vettel and teammate Kimi Raikkonen have used their permitted allocation of four engines for the season and will be penalised for taking a fifth each.
Hamilton's Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg has won three races and is third in the championship with 229 points.
His challenge has been hit by retirements, notably in the Russian Grand Prix this month when he led after starting from pole position.
Hamilton, however, is taking nothing for granted as he seeks to secure the title on his favoured American soil where this week, according to his Instagram account, he has been hanging out with Hollywood film star Will Smith, who he described as "one of the most inspiring and wisest" people he had met.
"I'm going to take my time and work as hard as ever," said Hamilton.
"My goal is to win a third title and until I achieve that there is no other goal. I feel incredibly fortunate to have this car.
"I love going to Austin - the track has been amazing for me since the first race. I am looking forward to it. It is a track where you can race and get close to people."
Hamilton joined the team in their celebrations after retaining the constructors' championship at Sochi.
"It was great to catch up with the team back at the factories and to celebrate together," he said.
"I can't say enough how grateful I am for all their hard work and it's important that we relish these moments. Austin is one of the highlights of the season for me - I love going to the 'States and I spend a lot of time here - so I am really looking forward to it
"But I've learned from experience in this sport that nothing is ever done until it's done - so I am taking nothing for granted. I'll approach the race in the same way as all the others this year.
"I know there are four races left for me to get this championship tied up and, as long as it's done by the time I cross the line in Abu Dhabi, that's what really counts."
