Hamilton: The Championship is still alive

Lewis Hamilton has likened McLaren's 2011 campaign to a "massive emotional rollercoaster" where some times they've been up there and at others a "million away"

Although McLaren have claimed three victories to date this season, the most of any team other than Red Bull, it has not been a solid campaign from the Woking outfit.

While at some grands prix they have fought at the front, at others they have found themselves a full second or even more behind their main rivals.

This month alone, Hamilton at first had no answer to Ferrari and Red Bull's pace in Britain but then went on to take a fantastic victory in Germany where he had the measure of his rivals.

"We have had a challenging couple of months, up and down, kind of nearly there, kind of not, then a million away, then the win," Hamilton acknowledged.

"It's been a massive emotional rollercoaster for all of us. It has played on my emotions and that of the team, so when we do have the wins as in Germany then it's just that much better.

"If you were doing it all the time, then I don't know if you could have the same feelings, so it makes it all the more worthwhile, and clearly we want to continue like this.

"But there are things I know we need to go and work on, and there are things the guys know they need to work on. We just need to keep applying the pressure because the Championship is still alive.

"I really hope the win spurs them on because we're only just over halfway. There's still a long way to go."

But with little indication of what is to come next from their MP4-26, the only definitive is that the car seems to prefer cooler conditions. And that's exactly what Hamilton is hoping for this weekend in Hungary.

"If you look at Hungary last year the Red Bull was light years ahead of everyone," said the 2008 World Champ.

"If you look at Valencia this year, Red Bull and Ferrari were massively quick in the hot conditions, and I expect them to be the same again this weekend.

"Naturally we will try to improve, but I do think we will have to wait until next year before our car is maybe as good as theirs. We'll see.

"Maybe we'll turn up there and be quick, maybe we'll have cooler conditions and it will be perfect for us."

With nine races remaining this season, Hamilton is third in the Drivers' Championship, 82 points behind Championship leader Sebastian Vettel.

Source: Planet-F1