Lewis Hamilton is still driving “within a margin” despite holding a healthy 39-point lead in the championship over Valtteri Bottas.
The Briton is enjoying his most successful season to date in Formula 1 with seven wins in the first 10 races, as Mercedes once again sit as the dominant force on the grid.
And while the battle for the title has seemingly become a straight duel between himself and the Finn, Hamilton insists there no tension or wish to create any.
“Ultimately, there’s nothing personal between us,” he told Racer. “Coming to the weekend, you are trying to apply the pressure and come out on top.
“I didn’t come to (Silverstone) with the idea that I need to extend or anything like that.
“I need to work my way towards trying to win and every weekend it’s slightly different but this has been the strongest year — to this point — that I can remember ever having.”
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But rather than go all out for success at every race, the five-time champion explained how he is managing his way to that potential sixth crown.
“I think I was as relaxed last year, but every year you get a bit more comfortable within yourself and within the methods you use and the processes you go through,” he said.
“Qualifying’s not been spectacular this year – still not perfect, there’s still work to be done – but the races have generally been relatively strong, bar that one not-so-great one (in Austria).
“I still look after the car, I’m always conscious of it. My trust in the car is incredibly high and I know what the car is able to do, so I guess the experience of last year has made me a bit more confident to push a bit more.
“But the guys work within margins and I’ve been operating within a margin because ultimately you want to get it to a point where it’s as close but safe as possible and I think that’s where I’m operating right now.”
