Lewis Hamilton hoping for better starts in crucial final races
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton will be hoping to have a good start for Sunday’s United States Grand Prix. With the long run into Turn 1, a bad start could be detrimental to his championship chances.
Hamilton already sits 33 points back of his teammate and championship leader Nico Rosberg heading into this weekend and, with just four races left to go, things are starting to look troublesome for the Brit.
Even if Hamilton were to win the final four races, Rosberg could still win the championship by finishing second each race. One of the major factors in Hamilton’s disappointing season to this point has been his starts. Last time out in Japan, a poor start saw the defending champion drop from second on the grid to eighth in the first turn.
Hamilton is not afraid to admit that starts have been his weak point, and he says that he and the team have been working to try and make them better.
“It has been an ongoing thing all year long,” said Hamilton. “There’s been a lot of changes, a lot of work, perhaps more than in other areas. I was at the factory last week and we were working very hard to cover up all areas so we hope that we have a slightly better formula this weekend. If not, then there will be a better formula next weekend.
“I definitely feel that we’re in a better position so fingers crossed for Sunday.”
However, even if Hamilton were to drop back at the start, Austin is not the toughest place to make up positions. All of Hamilton’s wins at Circuit of The Americas have came with on-track passes, at first on Sebastian Vettel in 2012 and then with Rosberg in 2014. Hamilton also passed Rosberg for the win in 2015, although Rosberg had ran off track.
“America has always been a good hunting ground for me,” said Hamilton “This is a fantastic track. They did a very good job with the design. It’s one of the few of the newer circuits that really allows good overtaking and following of cars, which is always difficult in Formula One.”
With just 25 points being awarded to the race winner, it is impossible for Rosberg to clinch the championship this weekend.
