Lewis Hamilton eyes 'steep mountain to climb' after falling behind in title race

28 April 2016 03:53

Lewis Hamilton insists he is not taking his pursuit of Nico Rosberg lightly after falling 36 points adrift of his Mercedes team-mate in the race for the Formula One title.

Rosberg has arrived in Russia bidding to win his fourth race from as many grands prix this season - and seven in all - a streak which stretches back to last year.

In contrast, Hamilton, 31, has endured a troubled start to the defence of his title. He finished second in Australia, third at the ensuing race in Bahrain, before battling back from last on the grid to seventh in China.

With 18 races of this marathon 21-race season remaining, and a possible 450 points still available, the Briton has, to date, taken adversity in his stride. But speaking on the eve of round four of the championship, Hamilton said: "I don't look at it lightly, and I don't look at it like it is not a big deal.

"It is 36 points - a lot of points - and I don't take it for granted that it is a big step. I know that I have got a lot of work to do. I don't look at it and think that's nothing. It is a steep mountain to climb.

"There are 18 races left, and it is an average of two points a race, so it is not impossible. For as long it is not impossible, anything is possible."

Asked if reeling in Rosberg, now the title favourite with some bookmakers, would present the biggest challenge of his 10-season grand prix career, Hamilton replied: "No. It is one of them, but I have been racing 23 years and there has been a lot of challenges from the get-go.

"It is just another one, and just as hard as one of those."

Hamilton has spent the majority of his time between China and Russia in America with his family. On Tuesday night he attended a glitzy ceremony in New York after being named by Time, the well-known American magazine, as among the 100 most influential people on the planet.

Hamilton added: "It wasn't until I left, and I was with my mum and my sister on the plane, and I was like 'can you believe that night?' It was huge.

"I came up on the screen. All these people were coming up on the screen, and they didn't cheer for everyone.

"I was sat next to some people and I said 'was it me or did I seem to get a warmer response than everyone else?', and they were like 'yeah'.

"I was asked to do a speech - only five people were asked to do a speech - and I took the opportunity to say a couple of words for my dad.

"The reason I am sitting in front of you is because of him. Obviously for me, God comes first, but my dad made everything possible . I owe everything to him."

Source: PA