Hamilton: 2007 defeat shows I must fight on

The outcome of this year's battle with Nico Rosberg is effectively out of Hamilton's hands, as if his teammate finishes second in the final two races then that will be enough to give the German the crown.

But having come off worse at the end of 2007, when Kimi Raikkonen came back against the odds from a huge deficit with two races to go to snatch the crown, Hamilton says that nothing is done yet.

However, he admits that the situation is quite strange for him, because even knuckling down and winning races may not be enough for him now.

"It is great to be performing as I know I can perform, and not having car problems and being able to show that pace out there – it is a great feeling to be able to do that," he explained.

"I feel like I generally do most of the season – but fighting for something that I don't know if I will be able to make it, it is definitely an unusual scenario I am in.

"I will push all the way until the end. In one way it can be painful and in one way it can be a great thing. All I know is in the beginning of my career in F1 [in 2007], right up until the last minute, it changed. That is why I cannot give up."

Hamilton is aware that victory in Brazil for Rosberg will be enough for the German to snatch the title one race early.

And having seen Rosberg win there the last two years, and having never triumphed himself at Interlagos, Hamilton knows he will need to deliver his very best to come out on top.

"I am not focused on the championship now, I am focused on trying to win these races, performing at my best," he said. "I know when I perform at my best, things like [winning in Mexico] happy. That is what I have got to do.

"I have never won in Brazil, so I go in with the same mentality as I had this weekend."

When asked if he was preparing himself to lose the championship, Hamilton said: "I don't know how you can prepare for losing. I don't think you can prepare to lose.

"I have experienced it before. I lost in 2007 and I know it won't be as painful as then. I have lost many races and championships in my career so it is not like I haven't experienced it.

"I am in a scenario now where there is more of a chance I will lose it than a chance I will win it. It is hard to swallow but it is what it is. Life will move on, I will move on – I still have three. I really hope next year I don't have reliability problems."