Hamilton says he just needs to do a better job to return to the top

The McLaren driver has not been on the podium since he won the German Grand Prix in July, and has clashed with rivals several times in recent grands prix, including Belgium, Singapore and Japan last weekend.

He has dropped to fifth place in the standings and has also been overtaken by team-mate Jenson Button, the Briton having taken a superb win at Suzuka on Sunday.

Hamilton says his problems are due to a combination of elements, but admits that is not a excuse and he simply needs to raise his game.

"I think it is a combination of things," said Hamilton of his problems in recent races. "I think I put most of it down to myself.

"There are times when you find yourself unfortunately with yellow flags or traffic, but that is not an excuse.

"We have to do it, we all have to do the job, others have to do it. It is a lack of some pace, a lack of being in the right place at the right time, and that is what we are working on improving."

Hamilton says that Button's recent results show that McLaren is competitive enough to fight near the top, and the 2008 world champion feels that if his team-mate can do it, so can he.

"I think my approach every weekend is to have a good weekend but for some time now that is not the case," he said. "I always come back and have another shot and hope for a better result. I prepare myself in the best way I can.

"Clearly Jenson showed that we are competitive. I think if he can do it I can do it, so I need to get on with things, hopefully we will have our time properly in qualifying and hopefully able to compete with the best cars here.

"I have two two-time world champions next to me [Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel], and my goal in life is to emulate them so I need to catch up with them."