The F1 Pit Box

It's only seven points and we all know last year he had an even bigger margin and still managed to lose the Championship, but can it really happen twice?  Let's look at the situation.  The first non-driver influence is McLaren, who have been aching for a new World Championship win and after last years issues, seem to be in far better shape.  The absence of hostility between the drivers must go some way to achieving this, however perhaps it's the opposite, with Heikki appearing not to be pulling his weight.  In fact, Heikki is rapidly becoming Rubens Barrichello to Lewis's Schumacher - too little luck and possibly too little team support.

So, we can be assured that McLaren are highly unlikely to leave anything to chance in Brazil, highlighted by the cool, calm post-race radio messages to Lewis, emphasizing how important it was to take it all nice and easy.  The first car concern is the engine in the back of Lewis's car.  Brazil will be its second race distance and although he presumably turned the engine down towards the flag at Shanghai, he was giving it plenty for the rest of the time.  Let's hope this doesn't put an end to the world title.

Lewis himself was the picture of relaxation last weekend, the opposite of his Fuji persona, so whatever he has been doing will be repeated until the next race, with only the escalating pressure to worry about.  However, with the lead cemented and increased, surely he will be feeling a little easier about everything?  Or will the creeping stress force unfortunate mistakes under the inevitable Ferrari onslaught.

This onslaught is the other problem for Lewis and McLaren.  Massa has to win at Brazil, regardless of the fact it's for the Championship, and Kimi has to come second.  If Alonso and Kubica (or Vettel) comes third and fourth, there is the chance Hamilton won't take the title, but it's a big, big ask.  Hamilton is going to want to win and snatch the Driver's all at the same time - to prove to the world he can do it all at once.  Which could also be his downfall.

So, on paper Hamilton has not won the 2008 Driver's Championship yet, but at this point it looks very likely he will do.