World Championship leader Lewis Hamilton admits he is looking to keep the pressure on by winning at Suzuka for the first time.

The 29-year-old has surged to the top of the standings after winning the last two grands prix – in Italy and Singapore – and he has now opened up a slender three-point lead over Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg.

The German has been plagued by reliability issues of late and has not won a race since his home grand prix at Hockenheim on July 20 to allow Hamilton to get back on track.

However, the 2008 world champion has never won at Suzuka, with his only win at the Japanese Grand Prix coming in 2007 at Fuji, so he is determined to make his mark at the iconic figure-of-eight circuit early next month.

“Suzuka is the one track I want to win at. I have a serious target there,” said Hamilton.

With just a handful of races left in 2014, the World Championship looks set to be a straight shoot-out between Hamilton and Rosberg although with 50 points on offer for winning the final grand prix in Abu Dhabi, Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo cannot be ruled out just yet.

The young Australian is currently 60 points behind Hamilton in third spot with the Japanese Grand Prix followed by races in Russia, the USA and Brazil before the Abu Dhabi finale.

Hamilton is 1.58 to with the 2014 F1 World Championship with The Field at 2.40.