Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg take Formula One title fight to Japan

Lewis Hamilton is aiming for his third consecutive win, and to widen his slim lead in the title standings over his Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg, as Formula One heads to Japan this weekend.

The Japanese Grand Prix at the Suzuka track on Sunday will be the 15th race on Formula One’s calendar. After Japan there are four races left, including the U.S. Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, on Nov. 2 and the season finale in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 23.

Hamilton, a British driver who won the series championship in 2008, has a mere three-point lead over Rosberg in the title standings.

Red Bull Racing’s Daniel Ricciardo, with three wins this season, is third but 60 points behind Hamilton, so it’s likely the Mercedes teammates will decide the championship.

Hamilton has a series-high seven wins so far this year, including the most recent two races in Italy and Singapore.

Rosberg, a German driver with four wins this season, finished second in Italy but next to last in Singapore when a problem in his steering column forced him out after only 13 laps.

Hamilton won the Japanese Grand Prix in his rookie year in 2007 but that race was held at the Fuji racetrack.

“I’ve never won at this [Suzuka] circuit,” Hamilton said on his team’s website. “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,” Hamilton said.

Hamilton also noted that Mercedes has vowed to fix its reliability problems, such as the one that affected Rosberg in Singapore, in hopes that the championship won’t be decided by one or both drivers suffering mechanical failure.

“Hopefully we’ll now have a straight battle right to the flag in Abu Dhabi,” Hamilton said.

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