FORMULA ONE:LEWIS HAMILTON, his voice reduced to little more than a croaky whisper because of a cold, was still able to manage a battle cry from the McLaren camp as Formula One went into the second phase of the season, with practice for tomorrow's Belgian Grand Prix.
Outside McLaren and Ferrari, the feeling is that Red Bull have won the war, even though they have lost the most recent three skirmishes at Silverstone, Germany and Hungary. With eight races remaining, Sebastian Vettel leads by 85 points from team-mate Mark Webber, with Hamilton and Jenson Button trailing by 88 and 100 points respectively.
But McLaren have won the past two races and Hamilton, who won here last year, said: “Going into the break we did the team proud and that was good for everyone. We have arrived here with a spring in our step and I don’t see why we can’t keep it up. If we had been faster at the start of the year we would have put a lot less pressure on ourselves but I’m not trying to hang around. I think we can win races and we have to. It’s clearly possible to catch up. I’m sure Vettel can’t have it all his own way. The luck is going to sway between certain drivers.”
It seems inconceivable that Vettel will be caught, unless the German fails to finish races. Hamilton said: “That would be very helpful but the way that car is going I doubt it very much unless he makes a mistake, which again is very possible.
“When you look at certain races coming up – Korea for instance, where it rained last year – there are lots of possibilities. I’d like to think it won’t be done before the end of the season but it’s a big, big gap. I haven’t seen a gap like that for a long time.
“But me and Jenson have done really good in the last two races. I feel we can be competitive. I feel optimistic. It would be very special if we could get our first one-two of the season. That’s the goal.”
Hamilton, probably more than any other current driver, enjoys the particular challenges of the very fast Spa circuit, with its contours through the Ardennes and, most of all, Eau Rouge and the high-speed double left at Pouhon. “I love this circuit. It is a real classic circuit and it’s massively fast. You feel you are going somewhere as it is so close to the woods.”
Hamilton has been enjoying some time off in America with his girlfriend, Nicole Scherzinger. “There are a few places where we might be recognised but generally the places where we went we weren’t recognised. I think the reason I go there is because it is one of the nicest places in the world. It really is a beautiful place. They have great mountains, great lakes, great beaches, great women, great food.
“They really have everything. Great music. All the artists are there so that’s pretty cool. I’m coming here quite fresh and I think that makes a difference.”
Hamilton’s belief that Vettel can be caught has received some encouragement from the unlikely source of Webber, who does not think his Red Bull team-mate will be able to maintain his early season dominance.
“In terms of having five, six or seven wins on the bounce, that’s over,” the Australian said. “That is not going to happen. I think it will be more spread out. It will be the same customers, the usual suspects, the normal guys winning, and I am looking at getting involved as well.”
Christian Horner, Red Bull’s team principle, said: “The next two events have historically been our weakest venues. But our intention is to attack the remaining eight races as much as we can.”
Webber certainly attacked practice yesterday, finishing top of the timings in the afternoon ahead of Fernando Alonso, Button and Hamilton, with Vettel 10th.
In the morning session Michael Schumacher celebrated his 20th anniversary in Formula One by posting the quickest time, squeezing in a lap before the rain spoilt it for the others.
