KEY POINTS:
While the cynics who felt let down by Lewis Hamilton's performance in Brazil last year continue to carp on the moments in 2008 in which he has also cracked under pressure - Bahrain, Canada and Japan - his manner all weekend in China was that of a man ready to embrace his destiny and become Formula One's youngest champion.
But he is shrewd enough to appreciate that the only man who can now beat him, Ferrari's Felipe Massa, will have an advantage racing in his homeland when the outcome is decided in the Brazilian Grand Prix on 2 November.
"It definitely gives you some form of boost, but it's hard to explain exactly what that is," Hamilton conceded yesterday.
"Nigel Mansell used to talk about it being worth a second per lap - it's clearly not worth that much, but there is something to what he's saying. I know that Felipe is very proud to be Brazilian, and that he'll be pumped up to perform in front of his home crowd. And that gives you extra confidence and a mental boost. I remember at Silverstone, earlier this year, just how much appreciation I received from the crowd and just what it meant to me."
Last year Hamilton went to Brazil with a seven-point lead yet was beaten at the 11th hour by Ferrari's Finnish challenger, Kimi Raikkonen.
This year he does not appear to be a believer that lightning strikes twice.
"No," he said, "I think it's a completely different year. I don't really have much to say to that. And as for the championship, I have not really thought about it, to be honest. In terms of how close I feel I have not really thought about that."
Victory in the Chinese GP was a key step, however, since even if Massa wins from potential spoilers Raikkonen and Renault's Fernando Alonso, who has said he will do anything he can to help Massa win, all Hamilton needs to do is bring his McLaren home fifth.
"Yes, it's another step towards the championship and towards my dream and towards my team's dream," he said.
"The team deserve it. We have worked very, very hard throughout the season and I think our approach to this race was right. It was not to go out and win everything just in this race. It was to look at both races to try and score as many points and I know going to Brazil will be a much better situation compared to last year."
- THE INDEPENDENT
