Lewis Hamilton in ‘must-win’ mode as F1 title race nears finish line

Lewis Hamilton knows he has his work cut out if he is to retain his Formula One world title with Max Verstappen edging ever closer to a first drivers' crown of his career.

The seven-time champion heads into the closing stretch of what has been a see-saw season 19 points adrift of his rival with just four races remaining on the calendar.

The Dutchman, fresh from back-to-back race wins in the United States and Mexico, knows that another strong showing in Brazil this weekend could all but seal the deal.

Interlagos was of course the scene of Hamilton’s first title win back in 2008. But 13 years on it is Red Bull who are expected to be the stronger this time, with Verstappen the most recent winner at this track back in 2019.

With only 78 points remaining after Sunday's race it is crunch time and Hamilton knows it.

"This is not a very good track for overtaking," said Hamilton. "You have to have a 1.1 second advantage on the car ahead to have a 50 per cent chance, or something crazy like that, of making the move.

"I would imagine the challenge this weekend is as steep as it can be. Red Bull's pace was phenomenal at the last race, and they have had the strongest car this year, so we have done as well as we could.

"We are going to be pushing this weekend to see if we can squeeze any more out of the car. But last time here they were incredibly strong so we anticipate they will be hard to beat.

"Every race is a must-win race and it has been that way forever - particularly since we came back from the summer break - but we have not been able to do so."

Hamilton's cause has been put back even further with Mercedes opting for an engine change, which exceeds the number of parts the 36-year-old is allowed to use in one year and will result in a five-place drop down the grid for Sunday's race.

He was already hit with a 10-place penalty at last month's Turkish Grand Prix, going on to finish the race fifth.

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Hamilton has won just one of the last eight races with Verstappen seizing the initiative just when he needed to most.

The Brit believes recent changes to his car have set him back too.

"This year we have had our wings clipped. It has definitely been harder from an operational sense to maximize the car," he added.

"We will just try to focus on getting the car in the right window, and that is not easy. It is not an easy car to set up. It is really difficult to explain and to go into in terms of details, but it is just harder to optimise."

It is obviously not too late - Hamilton hasn’t won the last five world titles on the spin for no reason - and there remains time for things to switch gears again with more twists and turns sure to come.

Motorsport at this highest level - and speed - is inherently volatile with an on-track collision between the two, as we have already seen twice this year, not being ruled out by anyone involved.

Verstappen is all too aware of what is at stake and how swiftly things can change in this sport having seen a bigger advantage evaporate already this year.

"In four races a lot of things can happen," he said. "We are looking good but things can change very quickly. I've had a bigger lead already in the championship and that disappeared within two race weekends."

He remains in pole position though with the season's chequered flag now within sight.