Hamilton hoping upgrades will boost chances
Lewis Hamilton is hoping that the latest upgrades to his McLaren car and significantly cooler conditions will boost his chances of delivering a home win to enhance his title challenge in Sunday's British Grand Prix. The 27-year-old Englishman, who crashed out of third place at last month's sizzling European Grand Prix in Valencia, slipped from leading the drivers' title race to third and is now 23 points adrift of Fernando Alonso of Ferrari. He said: "It wasn't an ideal way to end that weekend, but we have got some upgrades on the way and we are going to need them now because the other teams have obviously made some big steps forward. "The Red Bulls and the Ferrari are very fast and it is going to be a big fight at Silverstone, but I think we can be competitive." Hamilton will be seeking his second 'home' win at Silverstone having won there in 2008 on the way to the drivers' championship and he cherishes that memory as one of the best of his career. He said: "To me, winning at Silverstone is right up there with winning at Monaco. Standing on the top step of the podium in 2008 was among the sweetest moments of my career and I would love to taste that again. " There is nothing like racing in front of your own fans and they really do make a big difference - you can feel the support out on the track and it is amazing to give back something at Silverstone." Hamilton added that he felt McLaren's flop in Spain was partly due to the fact that their car does not perform as effectively on slower circuits - and forecast that he will be stronger this weekend, especially if cooler temperatures helped them with tyre management. Defending double world champion Sebastian Vettel dominated the Valencia weekend from pole position until being forced into retirement by an alternator failure. His supremacy, after early season frustrations, came as a result of a major bodywork change at the rear of the Red Bull car that rivals are concerned has moved the Red Bull to a faster level, potentially beyond their immediate reach. Vettel's Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber is now second in the championship, 20 points behind Alonso, while Vettel is fourth, a further six adrift. - a position that leaves Hamilton desperate to join Alonso in becoming only the second double race winner this year in Sunday's ninth round of the championship. Hamilton said: "Our car doesn't seem to go so well on the lower speed circuits like Valencia, but I think on higher speed circuits like Silverstone, we should be more competitive. "Trying to look after our tyres is our biggest problem so hopefully there's a better chance with the new upgrades. "Sometimes you have to accept when things don't go your way in racing. Obviously it was frustrating to lose out so close to the finish, but that's motor racing -- you put it behind you and move on to the next race - which, happily for me, is at my home circuit of Silverstone. "It doesn't really alter the way I go racing because I race to win, and that's what I'll be doing, especially at my home grand prix. The British Grand Prix is special because I get such a massive boost from all the fans. "And the best way to respond to a disappointment is to bounce back with a good race so that's what I am aiming for this weekend. It's a long championship and we are not yet even a the half-way stage."
