10/10/2016
NEWS STORY
Niki Lauda admits Lewis Hamilton's title hopes look to be over.
While some may say the 'fat lady' is already gargling before she breaks into song, others are not so sure.
Going into the final rounds we've seen drivers overcome greater deficits than the 33 points Lewis Hamilton trails Nico Rosberg by, and let's not forget the Hollywood-type conclusion to the 2008 championship.
Sadly, however, this year's title might not be decided so much by Rosberg's new found self-belief, Mercedes reliability or Hamilton's sensitivity, rather a British media seeking pay back.
Whatever Hamilton's issue with the press might be, and it will only get worse as Fleet Street seeks to hammer the guy and he falls for it, F1 legend Niki Lauda, who has experience of overcoming the odds, believes the title is already lost.
"Nico is doing everything right at the moment," said the Mercedes non-executive chairman and three-time world champion. "If everything is going normal, the championship could be decided in the next few races, and Lewis won't be able to catch Nico any more. This is perfectly clear to me.
"It is only lost and won when the points are gathered," he continued, "but if nothing happens to either car, I don't think Lewis will be able to turn it around again."
Check out our Sunday gallery from Suzuka, here.