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Title fight still open to top five - Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton and Mark Webber are now second and first in the drivers' standings © Getty Images

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• News:
• Hamilton keen to add Italian GP win to his collection
  
• Report:
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• Drivers:
• Jenson Button
• |
• Lewis Hamilton

• Teams:
• McLaren

Lewis Hamilton is not writing off any of his competitors for the title this year despite taking a commanding lead in the championship alongside Red Bull's Mark Webber.

Hamilton, Webber, Sebastian Vettel, Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso went into the Belgian Grand Prix separated by just 20 points, but after the latter three drivers failed to score points in Spa, Hamilton and Webber streaked ahead in the standings with over 40 points now separating the quintet.

However, with a win worth 25 points and six unpredictable races ahead, Hamilton said he had to defend his title from all of his competitors.

"You've seen in the last few races how quickly things can change," he told The Guardian. "We still have a long way to go and there are still many points to be grabbed by any of the drivers who are fighting for the title.

"Clearly for me my closest rival in the championship is Mark in terms of points, but I still think the championship is open. Obviously we want to make sure that's not the case after another few races."

Hamilton added that he would not be given any preference over his McLaren team-mate, despite Button's title defence facing a major setback at Spa.

"I get the same treatment as Jenson and that enables us both to score maximum points and so I don't feel there should be any preferential treatment," Hamilton said. "Obviously the team do the best they can to the maximum for each of us. There's no more they can do."

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