McLaren can fight for titles, insists Hamilton
British star says team are ready to win again as season resumes after summer break
Lewis Hamilton arrived at Spa eager to get back on track at this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix, convinced that McLaren are now genuine contenders for both world championships.
The Woking-based team struggled to find results during a first half of the season littered with costly errors and misfortunes, but a late push from the team saw them back in contention in Germany before Hamilton secured victory in Budapest prior to the five-week summer hiatus.
The 2008 champion, now fourth in the title race, admitted his victory had been a welcome boost and the team were now feeling a lot more confident going into the final nine races.
"My win in Hungary was a fantastic way to go into the summer break," he said. "It had the added bonus of sending the whole team away for their holidays with a positive feeling in their hearts.
"It's also given me the hope and assurance that we can come back for the final nine races with a real chance to go for both world championships."
However, with the haphazard start to the season, which saw seven different drivers win the opening seven races, the 2008 champion said there were still no clear title favourites and admitted that his main focus would be on reeling in championship leader Fernando Alonso, of Ferrari, who holds a 47-point lead over the Briton.