Young guns back Hamilton for F1 title

Pagenaud, facing his first weekend racing in Surfers Paradise for Team Australia, said: "I think Lewis is strong enough in the head, definitely. He has held off Alonso and Raikkonen so far an I don't see why he can't do it again. He's quick enough, he knows it, and he knows the car is good.

"I also used to race against Lewis, so I actually want him to do it, too."

Rahal of Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing concurred with the man who beat him to the Atlantic title last year. He said: "I think I've got to back Hamilton really, because he's in the best position.

"Having said that, I think if Raikkonen had driven as well all year as he's driven since the middle of the season, I think he'd be clear of the McLarens. That guy's on fire at the moment, and he's so fast and the Ferrari's reliable now too."

Hamilton's fellow Briton Katherine Legge also backed her compatriot to become the first rookie since Giuseppe Farina to take the world championship. "Lewis is going to win it because I want him to!" she observed, before adding. "He's in a reasonable car, and he knows he doesn't need to win the race.

"He can drive around within himself and not over-try."

PKV Racing co-owner and 1996 Champ Car title-winner Jimmy Vasser said: "Lewis will do it. He's been so impressive. Every time you think he's going to crack and remind everyone he's still a rookie, he comes back and shows how mentally strong he is.

"Okay, he made that error in Fuji, and I think he could have shown a little more class and been quicker to admit it was his screw-up. But on the other hand that was a mixed up race, and I'd say he's made fewer mistakes than Alonso or Kimi."

Champ Car returnee Nelson Philippe stated: "Out of pure favoritism for my good friend Lewis, I would choose him to win the championship. He has great skills and has been brought up with that level of pressure his whole career so as long as Alonso doesn't take him out, I think he can do it.

"Raikkonen is definitely the dark horse and might do it if Alonso and Hamilton take each other out. In the beginning of the season, I thought Alonso was going to win it but whatever happened at McLaren messed with his head a little bit."

Not everyone in the Champ Car paddock supported Hamilton, however. Oriol Servia, who took provisional pole for Sunday's Champ Car race, said that he hoped Alonso would win, but suspected the McLaren drivers might run into each other and leave Raikkonen with the title.

Meanwhile 2003 champion Paul Tracy said: "I don't really care who wins, but I'd quite like to see Alonso do it just to [annoy] Ron Dennis before he leaves."