Lewis Hamilton says he is not simply strolling to a sixth Formula 1 title despite his strong points advantage.
The Briton is 63 points clear of Valtteri Bottas with seven races to go but last weekend at Monza was the first time since Austria that his Mercedes teammate had finished ahead of him on track.
Instead, it has been the revived performance of Ferrari and Red Bull that has been Hamilton’s main threat, but as each race ticks by, he is adamant the title isn’t over just yet.
“I honestly don’t think it’s ever easy,” he said of the pending run to Abu Dhabi. “I don’t arrive into the race weekends thinking about the gap that I do have, I’m always trying to just progress forwards.
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“We’ve had an incredible first half of the season which I’m proud of, I think everyone worked really hard, but there are elements that we can improve and elements that I can particularly improve on, such as qualifying for example.
“I spent a lot of time thinking about it over the summer break, and I’m hopeful that in this second half, we may be able to improve or that I am able to improve.
“It’s good when you’ve still got things to improve on, still got things to work towards.”
And as for those that do believe it is just a matter of ‘when’ not ‘if’ Hamilton moves to within one of Michael Schumacher’s all-time record…
“It is how you decide to take it in,” he admitted. “I look at many things from a positive way and I know how much work I have still got to do.
“I know that if I don’t turn up in the next few races or I don’t deliver, or make mistakes I know I could well lose this championship.
“There are enough points to turn the tables, so I have to stay focused as I have done in the past and I come into the second half like I have done each year.
“There are areas I need to improve on while not letting other areas drop, and I truly believe I can do that.”
