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Hamilton believes his luck is changing

Lewis Hamilton is hoping he has left the last of his bad luck behind him © Sutton Images

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Lewis Hamilton feels his luck is changing after two fightbacks at the last two races have kept him within striking distance of Mercedes team-mate and championship leader Nico Rosberg.

In the two races ahead of the summer break, Hamilton started out of position thanks to a brake failure in qualifying at the German Grand Prix and a fuel leak in qualifying in Hungary. At the Hungarian Grand Prix he had to start from the pit lane and spun at the second corner, but still came through to take a podium ahead of Rosberg.

"If ever I've had good luck this year, it was at the last race in Budapest - keeping me from damaging my car on the wall during that first lap," he told the Mercedes website. "Hopefully that's a sign that my fortunes are changing. To have taken two podiums from two different weekends before the break has been really satisfying and, more than that, it allows me to smile and enjoy this time off knowing that I still have an opportunity to fight for this championship."

Lewis Hamilton came close to disaster when he spun off at the second corner in Hungary © Sutton Images

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However, Hamilton, who is now 11 points behind Rosberg, insists he enjoys the challenge of fighting from behind.

"It's been damage limitation for me in the last couple of races and we've had some difficult weekends throughout this season. But if I'm honest, looking back at it now, I wouldn't want it any other way. Sometimes it's nice to have things easy, but I love a challenge and I love a fight. It's not the times of ease that show who you are - it's the times of adversity. I definitely feel like the tough breaks I've had this year have made me stronger - and hopefully I've shown that I've got heart."

Hamilton does not hold the reliability issues that have affected his car against Mercedes and said the way the team has dealt with it has given him added motivation.

"We just need to work on the reliability, and I know that's the priority for everyone back at the factories. I have to say, though, that over the last two weekends in Germany and Hungary in particular, the guys have been amazing - I mean, really amazing.

"It's tough for everyone involved when reliability comes into play. To see these issues happen after all the long hours and hard work that they've put in - I know it hurts them as much as it hurts me. To then fight through get the car back together, get me out there and not give up or lose hope - I can't thank them enough for everything they do and that's what's going to keep me going right through this year.

"There's still a long, long way to go and I know that both the guys and myself will keep pushing right to the chequered flag in Abu Dhabi. We'll be back stronger than ever in Spa."

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