McLaren to take ‘strategic’ title approach

(GMM) McLaren will take a "strategic" approach to minimize risks in its bid to win the 2008 world championship with Lewis Hamilton.

23-year-old Hamilton finished just third in Singapore on Sunday night, but title rival Felipe Massa and pole sitter had an appalling night and did not score points.

Ferrari's latest pit stop blunder leaves Massa 7 points adrift the championship lead of Hamilton, who finished the Singapore grand prix nearly 3 seconds behind the Williams of Nico Rosberg.

"We are strategic in our approach to winning the world championship for Lewis, as is he," McLaren boss Ron Dennis said. "We make no secret of that.

"The most important thing is to stay out of trouble.

"You have to finish the races, we want to finish all the races in the top three, and when it becomes critical to win races then we will take greater risks," Dennis added.

Sunday's result means Hamilton could theoretically allow Massa to win the final three races of the season and still win the championship by achieving second places.