Lewis eager to build on fresh start

Lewis Hamilton believes he has laid the foundations for an excellent second half to the season with his victory at Silverstone…

Lewis Hamilton believes he has laid the foundations for an excellent second half to the season with his victory at Silverstone.

The 2008 World Champion was in danger of slipping well off the pace of Championship leader Nico Rosberg a fortnight ago, but his victory in Britain together with a DNF for his Mercedes team-mate saw him close the gap to four points.

It was a much needed boost for Hamilton with the summer break just around the corner.

“I feel like I’ve been on the back foot all year, only briefly leading the Championship despite taking the wins I’ve had, so to have got myself just about level was exactly what I needed,” he said. “It’s almost a fresh start heading into the second half of the season and it’s going to be a really close battle between us.

“Of course, you never want to see your team-mate fall away, but hopefully we can now strike a line under the retirements and push each other all the way on track. You can’t have everything – the best car, the best pace, the best speed at the end of the straight and perfect reliability – because things are on the limit.”

Rosberg, of course, will be hoping for a change in fortune at the next race in Germany following his retirement last time out.

“It was a real shame, but with the new regulations we are always going to be pushing the boundaries and I know how hard the team is pushing to give us the best car out there every weekend,” the German said.

“I lost a lot of points and the Championship battle is very close, but I’m feeling good. From the test last week we’re straight into the next race and another chance to regain the momentum, which is of course my target. Hockenheim is a crucial race for all of us. It’s the home Grand Prix for Mercedes-Benz and a second home race for me after Monaco, so I’m really focused on getting a top result this weekend.”