With a 67-point lead and four races left on the calendar, it would take an insane amount of bad luck for Lewis Hamilton to lose the 2018 title.

Such is the Mercedes driver's advantage over runner-up Sebastian Vettel, the world championship could be sealed in two weeks at Austin where Hamilton may join the great Juan Manuel Fangio as a five-time F1 world champion if he outscores his rival by 8 points.

However, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff won't put the cart before the horse, or the Silver Arrow in the bull's eye before it's shot.

"Absolutely freak incidents happen everywhere," Wolff said.

"I don’t want to even think about him breaking a finger!"

"It’s important to stay concentrated. You either have the trophy in your hands or you don’t – and we haven’t got it in our hands.

"A bad result suddenly wipes off a large chunk of your points. It doesn’t look likely, but this is motor racing. It’s a sport, anything could happen.

"I don’t want to dwell too much about it because it’s bad karma too, so let’s just go to Austin and get it done!"

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.

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