Hamilton convinced he can still win title after Hungarian Grand Prix victory
Lewis Hamilton says his Hungarian Grand Prix victory shows it is still possible for him to win the 2012 Formula 1 world title, despite remaining 47 points behind leader Fernando Alonso
Hamilton's second win of the season came after a run of three races in which he had scored just four points, but triumphing at the Hungaroring reduced his championship deficit from 62 to 47 points.
The McLaren driver is now fourth in the standings.
"This weekend shows it is all to play for still," said Hamilton. "Not enough points taken for Fernando. If we can continue this kind of performance we can catch up.
"We need consistency and we need to improve the car still in many areas and I am sure we will do that."
He admitted it was psychologically important to get back on the top step of the podium before the summer break.
"It is nice to go into the break knowing that we have had a win," said Hamilton. "It is a great feeling. It is very, very important how I manage the summer break.
"We have clearly still got a lot of work to do. We should take from this a good pat on the back, but we should know we have a lot of work to do."
Hamilton reckons he was only able to beat chasing Lotus duo Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean in Hungary because he had started in front.
"These guys were rapid," he said. "If they had qualified at the front it would have been impossible to get past them."
He said that winning under constant pressure made this victory particularly satisfying, and that he was pleased with how he had been able to manage the situation.
"When you win like this when under intense pressure from great drivers like Romain and Kimi, this is the kind of day when you have to have your mind 100 per cent," Hamilton said. "I feel great, because the team didn't flinch and neither did I."
Hamilton added: "It was never really close. I allowed them to close up in certain corners so that he may have problems with his tyres. I just made sure I saved my speed for the last sector so I had a big enough gap in the last three corners."
Previous article
Hamilton holds off Raikkonen to win the Hungarian Grand Prix
Next article
Kimi Raikkonen says he would not close the door on a return to Ferrari
About this article
| Series | Formula 1 |
| Drivers | Lewis Hamilton |
| Author | Jonathan Noble |
Starting Grid for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix
F1 Fast Facts: Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
How 2021's midfielders have taken lessons from F1's top teams
Formula 1’s latest Imola adventure turned into an expensive trip for many teams due to several crashes throughout the weekend. While balancing the books is an added factor in 2021 with the cost cap, a few midfield teams have cashed in early on development investments
Emilia Romagna Grand Prix Driver Ratings
A frantic wet race at Imola produced plenty of excitement and drama as drivers scrabbled for grip. Amid the hatful of mistakes and incidents that ensued, who kept their noses cleanest?
How the Emilia Romagna GP result hinged on three crucial saves
Rain before the start of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix promised to spice up the action, and the race certainly delivered on that. Max Verstappen got the best launch to win from Lewis Hamilton, but both got away with mistakes that could have had serious consequences
The back-bedroom world-beater that began a new F1 era
The first in a line of world beaters was designed in a back bedroom and then constructed in a shed. STUART CODLING recalls the Tyrrell 001
The clues Hamilton’s F1 contract afterthought gives to his future
The Formula 1 world reacted with surprise when it learned Lewis Hamilton’s long-awaited new Mercedes deal guarantees his presence on the grid only until the end of 2021. Both parties claimed publicly they were happy with the arrangement but, asks MARK GALLAGHER, is there more to it than that?
How a harshly ejected Red Bull star has been hooked by racing again
Driver-turned-DJ Jaime Alguersuari lost his love for motorsport when he was booted out of Formula 1 just as he was starting to polish his rough edges. Having drifted from category to category then turned his back on racing altogether in 2015, he’s come full circle and is planning a return in karts for fun
Why Mercedes isn't confident it's really ahead of Red Bull at Imola
While Mercedes struck back against Red Bull by topping the times at Imola on Friday ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, the overall picture remains incredibly close. Despite having a possible edge this weekend, the reigning Formula 1 world champion squad is not taking anything for granted...
What Mercedes must do to keep its F1 title challenge on track
Mercedes may find itself leading the drivers' and constructors' standings after Lewis Hamilton's victory in the Bahrain Grand Prix, but it is well-aware that it came against the odds, with Red Bull clearly ahead on pace. Here's what the Brackley team must do to avoid its crown slipping
