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| AP Photo/Manish Swarup |
Lewis Hamilton had admitted before the Indian Grand Prix weekend that winning the drivers’ championship this season would be a miracle, and if he did he would eat his words.
With a gap of 75 points and three races remaining, the McLaren driver not only needs to emerge victorious in the rest of the Grands Prix this season but also has to hope that leader Sebastian Vettel doesn’t finish in the points.
The story could be the same next year as well for the 27-year-old.
“Vettel is lucky to have such a dominant car and for so long. For whatever reasons, we did not have that fast enough and consistent car,” observed Hamilton. “But I have no complaints. Next year the title is out of question for me, seeing the picture realistically, but I will try to make a comeback in 2014.”
Bound for Mercedes next season, in what is a three-year contract, Hamilton was named as a replacement for Michael Schumacher, who announced his retirement from Formula 1 at the end of 2012.
“I have huge shoes to fill in at Mercedes and it will be difficult. I grew up watching Michael on TV and win all the titles,” he said. “When I made my debut in 2007, I was upset that I never got a chance to race Schumacher as he retired at the end of 2006. It was surreal for me when he came back to racing.”
Hamilton made his F1 debut with McLaren six years ago but has been associated with the team since he was 13.
"It was a tough decision to leave a team with which I have been since I was a teenager. But, these things happen and who knows maybe someday before I end my career I might even be racing in a Ferrari car!" he remarked.