Hamilton hopeful of recovery

Lewis Hamilton has faith that the wretched run of mistakes from McLaren overshadowing his campaign will soon come to an end.

Last season Hamilton could barely complete a race without making errors of his own as a clouded mind off track because of personal issues affected him on it.

This year Hamilton has not put a wheel out of place, but hopes of a second world title are being undermined by his team.

The latest gaffe occurred in Spanish Grand Prix qualifying on Saturday shortly after Hamilton was celebrating clinching pole, only to be told to stop on track for what later emerged as fuel issues.

The race stewards punished Hamilton severely, erasing all his times from qualifying and dropping him to the back of the grid.

Hamilton, though, is not going to allow what has happened this season affect his judgment when it comes to his future given his contract expires at the end of the year.

"I'm not looking at the bigger picture at the moment, I'm just looking at the season, and I want to win the world championship," said Hamilton.

"Of course, these last five races with the situations I've been in has not helped.

"We could have a healthy lead in the championship right now if we had capitalised on the performance we've had in qualifying.

"But we've just been unfortunate, and at some stage things will come together for our team and we'll get the points we deserve. That's bound to happen at some stage

"At least I can say I was happy with my race yesterday. It shows the strength within the team, and shows that I'm on form."

The Hamilton of last year would likely have started the race like a bull in a china shop, but instead conjured a polished, mature performance to finish eighth and only trail joint leaders Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso by eight points in the drivers' championship.

That is perhaps testament to his inner calm this season.

He added: "I put it (the fuel error) to the back of my mind, and going into the race I did not have it on my mind at all.

"I just thought about racing, enjoying the race. I didn't think 'okay, I have to get points and I have to do anything to get them'. I just went out and had fun."

In particular, Hamilton was forced to execute a two-stop strategy when all around him did three, conserving his final set of tyres - one of his previous weaknesses - for 31 laps.

Team principal Martin Whitmarsh was highly impressed, saying: "Lewis was extraordinary.

"After qualifying there was undoubted frustration and shock at what had happened.

"But I was so proud of him that night, with how he dealt with it and composed himself.

"Starting from the back we knew we had to do something like a two-stop strategy and how difficult that would be.

"So from the get go Lewis had to look after his tyres. This is a guy who is often criticised, who can't think things through, who can't look after the tyres.

"But all the way from the beginning he had to look after his tyres, to drive within himself.

"It was a strategy he proved he can operate, he got himself into the points and could have got a few more.

"But it was an extraordinary drive from Lewis who exercised self-control, discipline and maturity, to add to the speed and talent we know he has."