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Car will be sorted in Korea - Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton: "I want to win again and I go to Korea believing we can do that" © Getty Images

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• News:
• Button excited by Korea challenge
  
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• Race:
• Korean Grand Prix

• Championship:
• FIA Formula One World Championship

• Drivers:
• Lewis Hamilton

• Teams:
• McLaren

Lewis Hamilton is confident there is more performance to be found in his McLaren at the upcoming grands prix and is not giving up on his title challenge.

Before last weekend's Japanese Grand Prix, McLaren said it was "throwing everything and the kitchen sink" at developing the car over the final few races. However, an update to the rear wing and the F-duct flopped during its limited practice running at Suzuka and the cars were well off the pace of the Red Bulls.

Hamilton's chances were then further dented by a free practice accident on Friday and gearbox problems on Saturday and Sunday. But despite the setbacks, he believes the car was quicker than it looked and has the potential to challenge for wins at the final three grands prix.

"I was pleased with the pace we showed during the race," Hamilton said. "Jenson set the second-fastest lap, and, before my gearbox problem, I was closing down on Fernando [Alonso] and could even have made it onto the podium despite a five-place grid penalty.

"Given that we weren't racing all the updates we'd brought to Japan with us, I think that gives us a lot of encouragement for Korea and beyond. I've driven the Korean International Circuit on the simulator, and my first impressions were extremely positive. On paper, the track should suit our car quite well - the first sector is all about good end-of-straight speeds and strong performance under heavy braking, both key characteristics of our car. "And the middle sector is fast and flowing; it's the kind of place where you want a car with a good balance and good downforce.

"I think it'll reward commitment - it actually feels like quite a nice driver's track. The end of the lap is slower and tighter, but it's still all about rhythm and flow - so, as long as the track surface is nice and grippy, I think we're set for an enjoyable first race in Korea."

Hamilton said he was not worried about being 27 points off championship leader Mark Webber, after he lost the 2007 championship with a smaller lead with two races to go.

"It's getting more difficult, I'm fully aware of that," he said of his title chances. "But, in a situation like this, I always look back at the 2007 season and what happened in those final two or three races. I think Kimi [Raikkonen] was 17 points behind with two races remaining, but he still managed to win the world championship. I've learnt on more than one occasion that the world championship isn't won until the very last gasp - so I've definitely not given up.

"I want to win again and I go to Korea believing we can do that. And, who knows, if that happens and the other championship contenders fail to score, then I'm right back in it."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.