Hamilton all but concedes defeat in Perez pursuit: 'He needs two disasters'

Lewis Hamilton feels his chances of overhauling Sergio Perez for second in the Drivers' are all but over, as he insisted he doesn't care if he beats the Mexican or not.

Heading into the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Perez enjoys a 32-point advantage over Hamilton, meaning if he leaves Nevada with a lead of 26 points or more, he will wrap up Red Bull's first-ever one-two in the Drivers'.

Perez has two wins this season to Hamilton's zero, although the Mexican has endured a tricky run of form, including crashing out of his home race at Turn 1 after an over-zealous move around the outside.

Faced with such a big gap to make up, Mercedes driver Hamilton feels attention will be better served on the 2024 car instead of trying to overhaul Perez to finish runner-up to the runaway Max Verstappen.

Hamilton concedes Perez defeat

"I'm coming for [Perez], but he is too far away now to be honest," Hamilton told media including RacingNews365.

"32 points in two races, he would have to have two disasters and I would have to be second basically [in both races].

"But for me, it really doesn't make any difference if we are second or third, I think we've still have an amazing year given the car that we had.

"We never thought that we would be fighting for second in the Constructors' and knocking on the door of most dominant car of our era.

"I am grateful for just being where we are, and having had a half-decent season, and much better than last year.

"[Brazil] definitely felt like one of the worst [races], we just got the car in the wrong place, but there is potential in the car, and we had two really great races before.

"We just had it in the wrong window, and that is on all of us, but we've learned it and experiences like that you learn more.

"It is painful for everybody, but everybody is recovered, back in the factory and motivated to finish off strong this season, and I have no doubt we can."