Lewis Hamilton insists he will hold nothing back as he bids to overhaul Nico Rosberg in the championship race in what would surely rank as one of the finest achievements of his career.
Hamilton, who is now without a victory since July, has been cast 33 points adrift of his Mercedes team-mate with only four races remaining.
At the last race in Japan, Rosberg claimed his fourth win from five grands prix, while Hamilton could manage only third in a weekend which was overshadowed by his conduct out of the cockpit.
The Briton courted criticism after he fooled around on his mobile phone during a pre-race press conference. He then cancelled his media sessions with the written press.
Hamilton returned to England to celebrate Mercedes' third consecutive constructors' championship at the team's headquarters in Brackley and Brixworth before he was ruled out of a tyre test in Barcelona last week with a sore foot.
But the 31-year-old Englishman will head to Austin for this week's United States Grand Prix - the scene of his third championship triumph last year - still hopeful that he can prevent Rosberg from winning the title.
"We've got four races left to make the most of it and that's exactly what I plan to do," said Hamilton.
"It's just about hitting every race weekend as hard as I can, going all out for every win and seeing what happens from there. I'll be holding nothing back out there.
"I've got some great memories from Austin, with three wins from four races and, of course, the title win last year. That was one of the highlights of my career, no doubt.
"It's almost like the American fans have adopted me as their own, so I'll try to channel all of that positive energy into this weekend."
Hamilton's quest to become the first British driver to win four titles is out of his control.
Indeed Rosberg, 31, can now afford to finish second on three occasions and third at one of the remaining four grands prix and still seal his maiden championship.
"We now look only forwards and our priority over the coming weeks is to give both our boys the best possible chance of winning the remaining four races," Mercedes boss Toto Wolff added.
"The title is purely between them, which is fantastic news for the team as we can be happy whatever the final outcome.
"However, the pressure is on to ensure that their battle is decided man-to-man, and hopefully wheel-to-wheel, on the race track.
"We may already have celebrated our championship success as a team - but we have a responsibility to the drivers and will not let anything distract us from the job at hand."
Source: PA
