Hami keen to defend title

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Singapore, Sept. 22: Mark Webber has yet to finish a Singapore Grand Prix but the Formula One championship leader can expect to be third time lucky this weekend as the title battle moves up a gear.

The Red Bull driver holds a five-point advantage over McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton with five races remaining and five drivers still very much in the hunt.

“We should be closer to the front than we were in Singapore last year, as the car has changed a lot,” said Webber, winner of four races this season. “We’re very confident we’ll go there and go well.”

Hamilton, the 2008 champion, has a good record at the floodlit Marina Bay circuit and won the night race last season from pole position.

Two retirements in the Briton’s last three races, sandwiched around a victory in Belgium, and the Red Bull's speed around the tight and twistier circuits have given Webber grounds for optimism.

“Singapore should suit us if Monaco is anything to go by,” said the Australian, who won around that street circuit in May as well as in Hungary. “Hamilton destroyed us in Monaco and Budapest last year and this year we gave them a touch-up at both those races,” he added.

Hamilton failed to complete a lap at the last Grand Prix in Monza, the Briton retiring after banging wheels with Felipe Massa’s Ferrari in a rash attempt to overtake the Brazilian for third place.

But Hamilton hopes to avoid similar mistakes on Sunday. “Winning in Singapore last year was one of the most satisfying victories of my Formula One career,” said Hamilton.

McLaren backed their man to bounce back from that mistake and the 25-year-old does not plan to change his aggressive approach to racing. “I’ve had two non-finishes and one win in the last three races... and, while that’s not bad, it does mean that I lost points to some of the other drivers in the hunt for the title,” the Briton said.

“Those results aren’t enough to get me the title. l’ll keep pushing. I’ll take each race as it comes but I’ll also be making sure I get to the finish of the next five races... that’s more important than anything. I go to Singapore to win,” said the Briton.

Pic Caption:
Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton plays a drum on a dragon boat during a promotional event in Singapore on Wednesday ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix night race this weekend.