Russian GP: Hamilton, Vettel Reveal Approach As F1 Title Race Heats Up

Lewis Hamilton leads Sebastian Vettel by 40-points in the Formula 1 Drivers’ championship with six races to go and that makes him the overwhelming favorite to win his fifth title in 2018.

The Mercedes driver is ahead in the standings mostly because of him being unflappable throughout the season. Hamilton’s performances have been error-free throughout the campaign unlike his fellow four-time world champion Vettel.

The Ferrari driver’s ability to drive when under pressure has come into question on more than one occasion this season, especially since it is widely believed in the paddock that Ferrari have the better car, albeit by the slightest margin. He made a rookie error during the German Grand Prix, when he crashed out of the race while holding a comfortable lead and then another mistake at the Italian GP where he spun on the opening lap to end any chance of a victory.

Hamilton has capitalized on all of his title rival's mistakes and won the race on both the occasions. And with six races to go, all the fingers are pointing toward him becoming a five-time champion, come the final race in Abu Dhabi.

The British racer, however, believes the title race is nowhere close to being over and is aware the tide could change with lots of points being up for grabs before the end of the season. He made it clear Mercedes would not stop pushing the limit until the final race of the season.

“I don't think you ever have one hand on it - you either have both hands on it or you don't," Hamilton said Thursday ahead of the Russian Grand Prix, Sky Sports reported. "There is still a long way to go. A lot of points available.”

"Six races is still a lot of races. The job, the target and the approach is still exactly the same,” he added.

Similarly, Vettel also is not giving up on the title despite being 40 points behind. The Ferrari driver still believes the Italian team have a chance to make up ground and win their first Drivers’ title in over a decade.

“Anything can happen," Vettel insisted. "I still believe we have a chance. We will give it everything we can. We have a fair chance."

The German driver has to win this weekend’s Russian Grand Prix to have a chance of winning the title, and will be benefitted greatly if Hamilton runs into trouble, which has not been the case so far this campaign.

It is a race-by-race approach for both drivers, rather than thinking about the bigger picture and the championship. Hamilton and Vettel have made it clear that winning the race is all that matters, but which driver will push it right to the edge remains to be seen.

"I am aiming to win here and then we will go to the next race," Vettel said, when asked about his plan to reduce the deficit going into the final six races of the season.

“The approach is exactly the same," Hamilton echoed, during his pre-race press conference.