Lucas di Grassi will head into next weekend’s Formula E championship showdown full of confidence despite the 10-point deficit to rival Sebastien Buemi, saying: “The championship is in my hands”.

Di Grassi and Buemi have enjoyed a fierce rivalry through all three Formula E seasons, the biggest flashpoint coming at last year’s London showdown when they collided at the first corner of the title-deciding race.

Despite having won just one race so far this season, di Grassi will head to Montreal with a shot at a maiden Formula E title after gaining ground on Buemi in New York as the Renault driver was forced to skip both races due to clashing commitments with Toyota’s LMP1 team.

Di Grassi finished fourth in Saturday’s New York race and fifth on Sunday, giving him a haul of 22 points from the weekend to reduce the gap to just 10 ahead of the final round.

When asked if he felt confident heading to Montreal, di Grassi said: “More confident than ever. With the experience and everything I have in Formula E, everyone knows Formula E can go from hell to heaven any weekend, any race.

“We just have to do our best, win both races and see how it goes. It will be difficult, but nevertheless, we’re going to try very hard. We’re very confident.

“The championship is in my hands. If I win both races, I am champion, no mathematics to be done. That’s what we’re going to try to do.

“To win both races, that’s the aim, that’s the psychological background. Let’s see how it goes.”