Lewis Hamilton is looking to join the greats of Formula One by winning at Suzuka this week – with the Mercedes driver hoping for a “straight battle” for the championship against team-mate Nico Rosberg.

Although he won at Fuji in his debut season in 2007, Hamilton has only once finished on the podium at Suzuka and that was on the bottom step.

But, on the back of consecutive wins, the Brit heads to Japan with a three-point lead at the top of the championship standings following Rosberg’s retirement in Singapore.

Reliability has been the Achilles’ heel for Mercedes for much of a season which has seen them dominant when technical gremlins have been kept at bay.

With five retirements, two for Rosberg and one more for his team-mate, the German manufacturer has been unable to wrap up either title, despite the speed advantages, and now Hamilton is determined to see the title be decided on the track.

“It was disappointing to have another retirement but I know they have made this a priority moving forward,” he said.

“It’s levelled things up in the championship, so hopefully we’ll now have a straight battle right to the flag in Abu Dhabi.”

In the past Suzuka was later on in the calendar and has often been the location where championships have been decided, with a long list of those champs enjoying success around the circuit.

Hamilton is searching to add his name to that of his contemporaries and believes he is now in the best position to do so.

“Suzuka is one of the races on the calendar that drivers love the most – and arguably one of the greatest tracks in the world,” he added.

“There’s so much history and there have been so many defining moments there – like those unforgettable battles between Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost.

“I’ve never won at this circuit and have only made the podium once, on my first visit in 2009.

“I’ve had a couple of chances and last season was probably the best of those. This year, though, we have an exceptional car and I’m really hoping I’ll finally have my shot at the top step.”