Hamilton vows to ‘fight to the end’ despite ‘unusual scenario’

Lewis Hamilton says he is ready to “fight to the bitter end” for the 2016 Formula One world championship, though the Mercedes ace describes his title run-in as “unusual” since the outcome does not solely hinge on his own results.

Hamilton enters this weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix 19 points adrift of team-mate Nico Rosberg, and coming off a pair of dominant displays in Austin and Mexico.

“It's a great feeling when you're able to show the kind of pace I've shown at the past two races,” the Briton said. “Everyone has worked so hard and the car has really been faultless.

“The speed has been there all season — I just haven't always had the opportunity to take advantage of it,” he added in reference to the series of engine setbacks and poor starts he has suffered this year.

Hamilton is well aware that winning the final two races of the season in Interlagos and Abu Dhabi would not be enough to seal the crown if Rosberg were to finish second in both events. The triple world champion insists this state of play is not affecting his mindset.

“In terms of the Championship, it's an unusual scenario to be in — fighting for something and not knowing for sure that what you do will guarantee you're able to make it.

“One outcome would be painful and the other would be a great achievement. Regardless, I'm going to keep pushing.

“Since the beginning of my Formula One career I've seen that everything can change even at the very last moment, so you have to fight to the bitter end. I've never won in Brazil, so I go into this weekend focused on changing that.”