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HAMILTON: BUTTON MUST PUSH HARD
Lewis Hamilton urged fellow Briton Jenson Button to "keep pushing" for the world championship after the Brawn GP driver emerged from a testing weekend in Singapore.
Button had gone into the weekend in confident mood as he looked to significantly increase his lead over team-mate Rubens Barrichello with an overdue victory.
However, the 29-year-old produced a disappointing qualifying performance and lined up 11th on the grid for yesterday's Singapore Grand Prix.
That gave Barrichello, who started two places ahead of Button, and Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel the chance to make up crucial ground in the race for the championship.
Neither could make the most of their advantage, however, as Button finished fifth and extended his lead by one point to 15 over Barrichello with three races remaining.
But Hamilton warned his compatriot not to let his escape lead to complacency.
McLaren driver Hamilton himself threw away his first shot at the world title two years ago, when he was edged to the championship by Kimi Raikkonen in the final race.
"Let's not forget, I was leading by 17 points with two races to go and I lost it," Hamilton said.
"It's very, very, very tough, right up until the last moment, so I just suggest that they all keep pushing and we will see over the next few races, but he's done a fantastic job up until now, so I wish him all the best."
Hamilton bounced back from a disappointing race at Monza earlier this month by claiming a second victory of the season under the lights at the Marina Bay street circuit.
Hamilton remains in Asia this week as he prepares to make his debut at the Suzuka circuit in next weekend's Japanese Grand Prix.
Suzuka has been off the calendar since 2006, the year before Hamilton made his debut and as a result he is relishing the chance to test himself on a circuit he saw many of his idols race on before his break into Formula One.
"I have never been to Suzuka but I have heard that it is, apart from Monaco, the best circuit," he added.
"Just growing up watching television with Ayrton (Senna) and Alain (Prost) and Fernando (Alonso) and Kimi (Raikkonen) racing there. I always wanted to go there.
"I am very excited to go. I am sure it will be a very tough weekend and undoubtedly it will be very tough to learn that circuit and master it in one weekend but I will do all I can.
"Going with the momentum we have from this race, hopefully we will have a competitive car there."
Hamilton is hoping F1 audiences can now appreciate exactly why he has the number one on his car.
Although Hamilton only has three more races as world champion, with the crown likely to pass to Button, the 24-year-old feels he and the team have justified their status.
"I'm very satisfied because we could easily have had a year where we'd been at the back the whole time," Hamilton explained.
"For me, that wouldn't have felt great at all because I was world champion last year, and I know I'm good enough to be at the front.
"So to go straight to the back would have been difficult for a lot of people to understand, and my achievements would have been under question.
"So I'm glad I'm back at the front now, and that people can see the number one on my car was well earned. It's on our car for a reason."
He added: "To be number one and to finish number one is the best thing that can ever really happen. I was so happy because I just love winning.
"It was a very physically demanding race. We didn't have too much pressure from behind, but winning is never easy, so when you do it to perfection, it's so satisfying.
"To now have two victories is a great achievement considering where we were at the start of the year.
"I wasn't happy with the end result of the last race in Monza, so to come here and correct things was really satisfying.
"Now I really hope to be able to challenge for more wins in the next three races."
:thum:
Lewis Hamilton urged fellow Briton Jenson Button to "keep pushing" for the world championship after the Brawn GP driver emerged from a testing weekend in Singapore.
Button had gone into the weekend in confident mood as he looked to significantly increase his lead over team-mate Rubens Barrichello with an overdue victory.
However, the 29-year-old produced a disappointing qualifying performance and lined up 11th on the grid for yesterday's Singapore Grand Prix.
That gave Barrichello, who started two places ahead of Button, and Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel the chance to make up crucial ground in the race for the championship.
Neither could make the most of their advantage, however, as Button finished fifth and extended his lead by one point to 15 over Barrichello with three races remaining.
But Hamilton warned his compatriot not to let his escape lead to complacency.
McLaren driver Hamilton himself threw away his first shot at the world title two years ago, when he was edged to the championship by Kimi Raikkonen in the final race.
"Let's not forget, I was leading by 17 points with two races to go and I lost it," Hamilton said.
"It's very, very, very tough, right up until the last moment, so I just suggest that they all keep pushing and we will see over the next few races, but he's done a fantastic job up until now, so I wish him all the best."
Hamilton bounced back from a disappointing race at Monza earlier this month by claiming a second victory of the season under the lights at the Marina Bay street circuit.
Hamilton remains in Asia this week as he prepares to make his debut at the Suzuka circuit in next weekend's Japanese Grand Prix.
Suzuka has been off the calendar since 2006, the year before Hamilton made his debut and as a result he is relishing the chance to test himself on a circuit he saw many of his idols race on before his break into Formula One.
"I have never been to Suzuka but I have heard that it is, apart from Monaco, the best circuit," he added.
"Just growing up watching television with Ayrton (Senna) and Alain (Prost) and Fernando (Alonso) and Kimi (Raikkonen) racing there. I always wanted to go there.
"I am very excited to go. I am sure it will be a very tough weekend and undoubtedly it will be very tough to learn that circuit and master it in one weekend but I will do all I can.
"Going with the momentum we have from this race, hopefully we will have a competitive car there."
Hamilton is hoping F1 audiences can now appreciate exactly why he has the number one on his car.
Although Hamilton only has three more races as world champion, with the crown likely to pass to Button, the 24-year-old feels he and the team have justified their status.
"I'm very satisfied because we could easily have had a year where we'd been at the back the whole time," Hamilton explained.
"For me, that wouldn't have felt great at all because I was world champion last year, and I know I'm good enough to be at the front.
"So to go straight to the back would have been difficult for a lot of people to understand, and my achievements would have been under question.
"So I'm glad I'm back at the front now, and that people can see the number one on my car was well earned. It's on our car for a reason."
He added: "To be number one and to finish number one is the best thing that can ever really happen. I was so happy because I just love winning.
"It was a very physically demanding race. We didn't have too much pressure from behind, but winning is never easy, so when you do it to perfection, it's so satisfying.
"To now have two victories is a great achievement considering where we were at the start of the year.
"I wasn't happy with the end result of the last race in Monza, so to come here and correct things was really satisfying.
"Now I really hope to be able to challenge for more wins in the next three races."
:thum: