Fernando Alonso and Raikkonen are breathing down Hamilton's neck
The Spaniard finished second to Kimi Raikkonen's Ferrari in Shanghai to move to within four points of his McLaren team-mate with one race to go.
"It will still be very difficult because it will not be easy to take four points from Lewis," said Alonso.
"I need something dramatic to win. With a normal race it will be impossible."
Raikkonen also boosted his title chances - his win leaves him seven points behind Hamilton going into the Brazilian Grand Prix on 22 October.
On form, the Finn will be favourite to win at Interlagos, but realistically he can only hope some form of problem befalls both his rivals.
It is not nice when you hear your boss say he feels like a father to the other driver, and with me that I am not talking with him
Fernando Alonso
"We are back in the championship and it will be interesting in the final race," said Raikkonen.
"Hopefully the car is good and it will be a battle all weekend. It is not just up to us, though. We saw today that anything can happen."
Hamilton attempted to look on the positive side after sliding into a gravel trap on his way into the pits to change his worn tyres.
The Englishman, 22, had already lost the lead to Raikkonen and was being pressured by Alonso when he made his error.
"I'm sorry for the team, but I can still do it, don't worry," said Hamilton.
"You cannot go through life without making mistakes. But I am over it and we look forward to Brazil.
You cannot go through life without making mistakes - but I am over it and we still have points in the bag
Lewis Hamilton
"The team will be working hard to make sure the car is quick enough there, and we still have points in the bag."
Alonso said that his difficult relationship with McLaren following a series of rows this season would make it harder for him to win the title than Hamilton.
"For sure it is not easy with the relationship the team has with me," the double world champion said.
"It is not nice when you hear your boss say he feels like a father to the other driver, and he has a really good relationship, and with me [that] I am not talking with him.
"I was surprised about all these things. But the cars will be the same so it is up to me to do a better job."
It will be the first time since 1986 that three drivers have gone into the final race of the season still in contention for the title.
On that occasion, the man who went into the final race leading - Nigel Mansell - lost the championship.
The Englishman's tyre exploded on the main straight at Adelaide while he was in a position to win the title.
Frenchman Alain Prost went on to win the race and claim the second of his four drivers' crowns.
Shanghai International Circuit: An image of the main straight and pitlane area
Shanghai International Circuit
File photo of Kimi Räikkönen (2008) 
Spa, 2007, his previous win
Ferrari driver Kimi Räikkönen won the FIA Formula-1 2007 Sinopec Chinese Grand Prix on the Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai, China. This became the 200th GP win for Scuderia Ferrari and 600th podium for this Formula One team.

Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton gained pole in the qualification and was in the steady lead, but the tyre strategy gamble caused by a faulty rain predictions caused Lewis to lose control of his car on a pit lane entry carrying it to a gravel trap. This mistake became an unexpected opportunity for his rivals Kimi Räikkönen and Fernando Alonso in the Drivers' Championship. Alonso is four points behind and Räikkönen is seven points behind Hamilton.

While Alonso and Ferrari driver Felipe Massa were battling side by side right after the start of the race, Hamilton chased by the Finn managed to make a comfort gap to them. After Alonso finally passed Massa and strengthen his position he get into pursuit for Räikkönen's red car. Alonso was about ten seconds behind Räikkönen up on the finish line.

Sebastian Vettel rehabilitated himself for his previous fault and finished 4th. His teammate Vitantonio Liuzzi was 6th, splitted by Jenson Button's Honda from his younger companion.

Nick Heidfeld's BMW Sauber was 7th, while his teammate Robert Kubica was out while leading the race on the 33rd lap.

David Coulthard's Red Bull-Renault closed the top eight, three other Renault-engined cars right after him.