AUSTIN -- Despite being on the cusp of victory in his chess match with Sebastian Vettel, Lewis Hamilton insists he will battle for the race win as normal after beating the Ferrari driver to pole for the U.S. Grand Prix.
Hamilton has topped every practice and qualifying session this weekend and finished Q3 0.2s up on Vettel's quickest time. The Englishman has an outside shot at securing the championship this week if results go the right way, with the easiest permutation being a race victory and Vettel finishing lower than sixth.
Though a 59-point lead might encourage some drivers to adopt a conservative approach, Hamilton says nothing has changed in his mindset.