- Mercedes
Hamilton determined for 'straight fight' with Rosberg
Lewis Hamilton wants Mercedes' recent vow to prioritise reliability until the end of the season to ensure his championship battle with Nico Rosberg is decided on the track.
After suffering numerous issues this season Hamilton took the lead of the championship with victory in Singapore after a foreign substance contaminated Rosberg's steering column, forcing him to retire. Hamilton knows Mercedes is working hard to rectify its reliability problems and he hopes that allows the 2014 championship to be decided fairly.
"It was disappointing for the team to have another retirement but I know they have made this a priority moving forwards," Hamilton said. "It's levelled things up in the drivers' championship, so hopefully we'll now have a straight battle right to the flag in Abu Dhabi."
Hamilton won the 2007 Japanese Grand Prix but that year it was run at Fuji, not the iconic Suzuka track as it is now. Having only made the podium once at Suzuka Hamilton is determined to add his name to the circuit's famous history.
"I've never won at this circuit and have only made the podium once, on my first visit way back in 2009. I've had a couple of chances and last season was probably the best of those. This year, though, we have an exceptional car and I'm really hoping I'll finally have my shot at the top step. All the greats of Formula One have won at Suzuka since the sport first came there in the 1980s and I'm determined to add my name to that list this weekend."
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
