Lewis Hamilton insists he will have to be in the form of his life at the remaining three races to stand any chance of overturning the deficit to Nico Rosberg and win the Formula One world championship.
Hamilton, a winner in Austin last Sunday, heads into the Mexican Grand Prix 26 points adrift of his Mercedes team-mate with only 75 to play for.
Indeed the 31-year-old Briton can win tomorrow, and at the races in Brazil and Abu Dhabi next month, and still fall short in his quest for a fourth world championship.
Earlier this week, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner stated that Hamilton must treat the conclusion of the sport’s longest season like three FA Cup finals.
“There’s lots of different ways you can look at it,” said Hamilton. “Obviously I have to win all the races but I knew that at the last race.
“People can interpret it any way they want, but all I know is I’ve got to win and I’m going to try and do the best job I can, and really trying to apply everything I’ve learned over all those years.
“If there’s any time for me to be the best I’ve ever been, it’s these last three races.”
Rosberg can win the championship in Mexico City if he triumphs tomorrow, and Hamilton finishes 10th or lower.
On the surface, the odds of such an outcome would appear slim, but given Hamilton’s bleak reliability issues this season, it is not totally out of the question.
Hamilton, however, insists he will not be taking any greater risks in Mexico, and indeed for the remainder of the year, even though Rosberg can afford to finish second on two occasions, and third at one grand prix to clinch his maiden title.
“I approach this weekend the same as I approach every one, and maybe slightly more relaxed than others,” Hamilton added.
“I’ve accepted that there are things out of my control, and all I can do is control what’s in the car and what I do. So I’m putting all my energy towards that.
“I don’t think I’ll be taking more risks than usual. I think I’m usually a relatively risky driver, but I’m going for it, that’s for sure.
“And while my heart is still beating, I still have that drive to win, and there’s still an opportunity, even if it’s only one per cent, I’m going to be going for it.”
Rosberg has rarely strayed from the mantra of taking one race at a time in a campaign which has yielded an impressive nine wins, but the German conceded that a world title triumph would be the fulfilment of a life ambition.
“It is a childhood dream, but that is where it ends for me,” said Rosberg. “The only thing this weekend is winning the Mexican GP.
“It has been a great season so far, which has put me in this position, and it is exciting to be in this championship battle with Lewis.
“But for me, my way of achieving the best-possible performance, is focusing on things that are in my control and that is here in Mexico trying to win this race.”