Lewis Hamilton could clinch his third world championship at the Circuit of the Americas this week, but he insists that he still doesn't see retaining his Formula One crown as a done deal just yet.
"I'm going into this next race with the same approach I've had all year," he insisted. "I've learned from experience that nothing is ever done until it's done in this sport.
"I won't be taking anything for granted going into the weekend," he added.
An outright race win in Austin would be his tenth of the season and more than enough to put the matter of the title beyond doubt. Hamilton certainly comes into the next round of the Formula One season with a good record in the United States Grand Prix, having won the event three times in the past - the first at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2007 and then two of the most recent three outings at COTA.
"[Austin] is definitely one of the highlights of the year for me," Hamilton said. "I love the States and spend a lot of time over there, so it's a weekend I always look forward to.
"I'm excited to get out there, give my best - and if I can come away with a third Stetson hat that would be unbelievable!"
Hamilton's previous title campaigns have tended to be closer-run affairs. In 2007 during his rookie season he lost out to Kimi Raikkonen in the final race of the year, while in 2008 his first championship wasn't sealed until the penultimate race on the calendar. Confirmation of the 2014 title was similarly relatively late in coming.
All that experience means even if Hamilton doesn't seal the title in the US this weekend, he knows there will still be plenty of opportunities after that to put the matter beyond doubt.
"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."
If Hamilton does clinch the title again he will be the first British driver since Jackie Stewart in 1973 to score a hat-trick of championships in the sport. It would also put him level with other giants of Formula One including Jack Brabham, Niki Lauda, Nelson Piquet and his own personal hero Aryton Senna.
Only Sebastian Vettel, Alain Prost, Juan Manuel Fangio and of course Michael Schumacher have won more titles during their time competing in Formula One.
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