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Like a mountaineer one step away from conquering the highest
peak, the Mercedes driver knows he also stands on the edge of
uncertainty as he goes into the U.S. Grand Prix.
Without wanting to preempt anything, go into 'ifs' and 'buts' or
even acknowledge that the weekend felt in any way out of the
ordinary, Hamilton recognized that he would have to refocus his
career ambitions.
"I could imagine that, for me it would be like getting to the
top of Mount Everest. I mean, what do you do next?" he said of
the prospect of matching the three titles of his boyhood hero,
the late Brazilian Ayrton Senna.
The answer for most would simply be win more championships and
races, but Senna's triple has a particular resonance for
Hamilton.
The 30-year-old, who has already overtaken the Brazilian's tally
of race wins, has always wanted to win three. Not seven like
Michael Schumacher, or four like Sebastian Vettel, but to do
what Senna did.
As he said in Japan two weeks ago, he never aspired to be like
any other driver.
"There's no higher mountain but there are equally tough
challenges in maybe lower mountains. Things just change, so I
really don’t know," said the Briton, as he continued to ponder
how he might react.
"I am going to keep on wanting to win. That is never going to
change in me. That competitiveness I have in me is just in my
blood.
"The other day we were bowling with some people, and we had some
girls with us and I could not for the life of me let them win.
That competitiveness will always be there. I can't even fathom
what's beyond it
"I never thought beyond three (titles). I didn't even think I
would have two."
Hamilton won his first title with McLaren in 2008, with his
father present, and took his second with Mercedes last year in
the final race -- again with father and family present.
This time, he just has his pet bulldog 'Roscoe' for company and
he said he was not expecting any family to join him.
"At the moment it just feels like another weekend. It really,
really does. Which I'm actually happy about," he told British
reporters.
"Last year, the last race was an intense period -- I might have
it or might not have it. But now I’m in a good position with
four races (to go).
"I’ve set up my mind up knowing I’ve got these four races to win
the championship. My goal is to cross the line in Abu Dhabi as
champion, not cross the line in Austin as champion. If it
happens, then great but otherwise no extra pressure."
The Briton has won nine races in 15 this season and could become
the first champion to win 10 or more in successive years, as
well as Britain's first back-to-back champion.
So will that make him a 'legend', one of the greats who
transcends the sport?
"I hope at some stage I might be. I think that would be a
positive," said the sport's first black world champion. "I mean,
I’m doing not too bad.
"When you look at those people who have done wonders in their
sports and really stood out, I hope at some stage when I come to
the end hopefully people will stay I did stood out. I do stick
out like a sore thumb compared to the other drivers."
(Editing by Peter Rutherford)
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