Hamilton hones in on historic world title in China

By Nick Mulvenney

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Lewis Hamilton could cap an amazing debut season by becoming Formula One's first rookie world champion at the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday.

The 22-year-old Briton will start from pole position and needs a fifth race win of the year or a better finish than McLaren team mate Fernando Alonso and Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen to secure the title.

"I'm going to try and win the race," said Hamilton. "When I play golf and I'm in the bushes, I don't play safe but I go for the trees."

Typhoon Krosa could also play a role in Sunday's penultimate race of the season with the storm clouds presaging its arrival on the central coast of China expected to make for a wet and windy day in Shanghai.

That, at least, is the hope of world champion Alonso, who qualified a disappointing fourth for a race he needs to win to keep the title race alive.

The Spaniard, champion with Renault for the last two seasons, is 12 points behind Hamilton with a maximum 20 up for grabs in the last two races, so even a victory may not be enough.

"Anything could happen in the race so I am not giving up and will be pushing 100 percent for the win," said the 26-year-old.

Raikkonen retains a mathematical interest in the title race even if he is 17 points behind Hamilton and will start alongside the championship leader on the grid.