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Lewis Hamilton turned discipline into dominance at the Chinese Grand Prix and trusts the same calm approach will lead him to the Formula One title in Brazil next month.

Last season, the McLaren driver gave up a 17-point championship lead to Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen over the last two races, a collapse that began when he tried to win it all in Shanghai and ended up in a gravel trap.

There was no repeat of that rookie rashness this weekend, with the Briton driving a supremely measured race to take a seven-point lead over Raikkonen's team mate Felipe Massa.

The 23-year-old now requires only a top five finish to become the sport's youngest champion at Sao Paulo's Interlagos circuit on November 2.

"I've got a seven-point lead in the world championship but that doesn't allow me to take anything for granted," he said.

"I think our approach to this race was right. It was not to go out and win everything just in this race.

"It was to look at both races to try and score as many points collectively.

"I know going to Brazil will be a much better situation compared to last year and also we know that we will be a lot more competitive than we are here so that is comforting."

McLaren boss Ron Dennis said Hamilton had done a "truly fabulous job" and was encouraged that his protege had put his car on pole position despite carrying a heavier fuel load than his rivals.

"(This) clearly demonstrates the inherent pace of our car," he said.

Hamilton was not surprised that world champion Raikkonen had slowed down to allow Massa to move into second place and win two more points.

"They're a team and I know if I was in my position, if Heikki (Kovalainen) was leading, we would probably do the same thing," he said.

Hamilton, who said he arrived in China "humble as can be" after making a mess of last week's Japanese Grand Prix, was muted in his celebrations and quickly shifted his focus to the season finale.

"(We'll take) a similar approach to what I had this weekend, which was a better approach than I had last year coming here, a bit calmer, a bit more confident in the package and what we have to do," he said.

"We know that we have got to do a good job," he added. "It will be tough ... but hopefully as a team we can pull through."

Reuters