Hamilton ready for toughest test

Lewis Hamilton knows he needs "to remain in control emotionally and mentally" if he is to become Formula One world champion on Sunday.

Hamilton stands on the brink of becoming the youngest person to claim the title, only the second driver to win the championship in his second season, and the first Briton to take the crown since Damon Hill 12 years ago.

The pressure on the shoulders of the 23-year-old is likely to be considerable come the start of the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix.

He carries into the race a seven-point lead over his only rival in home hero Felipe Massa, aware he need only finish in the top five to realise his dream.

Hamilton knows he also has to be the coolest man at Interlagos; an ageing, but venerable circuit where 100,000 Brazilians will look to cheer on Massa.

"This weekend is going to be an interesting one, more so than any other race," assessed McLaren star Hamilton.

"But I am not getting ahead of myself. I know I have a really tough battle ahead of me, so it's important I remain in control emotionally and mentally.

"We need to keep our feet on the ground and head into the race with the approach we had in China.

"If we are able to do that, then we will be in a great position."

Hamilton was able to clear his mind in Shanghai of the negativity that had flowed his way in the wake of his performance only a week previously in Japan.

The young Briton drove virtually faultlessly to win at a canter and set him up for this weekend's date with destiny, which is again in his hands.

"To be in only my second season and to have had as many poles as I have, and as much success, I could only have dreamed of it," added Hamilton.

"It's still a dream even now, and hopefully we can continue with that dream in Brazil.

"We know we don't have to win. We just have to do a solid job, and that has to be our target."

McLaren F1 CEO Martin Whitmarsh concedes the team "can afford to be more conservative than normal" with regard to how they approach Hamilton's race.

However, he is mindful they are far from out of the picture in the constructors' championship, even though they trail Ferrari by 11 points, and they are not giving up without a fight.

"We are still pushing to win the constructors' championship, and it would be wrong of us as a team to overlook this fact," said Whitmarsh.

"There are 18 points available in Brazil and there's no reason why we can't take forward the pace and form we showed in China to achieve a one-two in Brazil.

"As a result, we do have a number of minor aerodynamic upgrades in the pipeline we are evaluating for inclusion on our Brazil-spec car.

"As with every race this season, we have brought something to the car - even if it has only been generating a few extra hundredths (of a second) of lap-time.

"So it would be wrong of us to close down that option for Interlagos."