Don’t take your foot off the gas now, rueful Hamilton warns his heir Button
WORLD champion Lewis Hamilton has warned his would-be successor Jenson Button that he cannot afford to ease off now that his goal is in sight.
Button took another step towards his maiden title by increasing his championship lead to 15 points at Sunday’s Singapore Grand Prix.
But the Englishman only managed fifth place – the latest disappointing result in a season that has tailed off dramatically from a superb start.
With three races to go Button is still the hot favourite to clinch the title, but Hamilton knows from bitter experience that it is far from over.
“Let’s not forget, I was leading by 17 points with two races to go and I lost it in 2007,” he said.
“It’s very, very, very tough, right up until the last moment, so I just suggest that they all keep pushing and we will see over the next few races. But he’s done a fantastic job up until now, so I wish him all the best.”
Hamilton’s fortunes dipped dramatically at the start of the season, but he and McLaren have undergone a resurgence of late and victory in Singapore was his second in the last five races.
He said: “I’m glad I’m back at the front now, and that people can see the No1 on my car was well earned. It’s on our car for a reason.”