Hamilton expecting Ferrari 'to punch back' in Austin

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Lewis Hamilton is expecting Ferrari to do its best to prevent Mercedes from uncorking the champagne at the Circuit of the Americas this weekend.

The Brit and his team have comfortable edges in their respective championships, but Hamilton is keeping the thoughts of clinching a fifth world championship out of his mind, preferring to focus on the immediate job at hand.

"As a team, none of us are saying how cool would it be if it [winning the title] was this weekend or next," Hamilton said.

"We’re not focusing on ‘ifs’, we’re focusing on making sure we deliver. There are still 100 points available so you can just never be complacent in life and in the Championship as intense as this one.

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"We expect Ferrari to punch back hard here this weekend, so we cannot be relaxed in any way, shape, or form.

"We have got to make sure we come here and raise the bar again. I’m definitely not coming into this weekend thinking how would it feel to do the job," he added.

"That just adds more pressure and you just don’t need more pressure, so I’m just focusing on driving the best as I can.

"It’s going to be wet all day Friday, as far as I am aware, and potentially on Saturday so it is going to be a tricky weekend and nothing is a given."

While he's keeping the thought of a crowning on Sunday out of his mind - Hamilton only needs to outscore rival Sebastian Vettel by 8 points - the Mercedes driver still addressed the prospects of equaling the great Juan Manuel Fangio's tally of five world titles.

"I’ve driven some of the classic Silver Arrows," he said.

"Fangio is like the Godfather for this sport. One of the greats from the very beginning. It’s crazy to think I’m embarking on a similar number of championships that he had."

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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.