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Hamilton focused on consistent results

Lewis Hamilton has finished both races on the podium but is yet to win from pole position © Sutton Images

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Lewis Hamilton is focusing on securing consistent strong results rather than race wins after back-to-back third places so far this season.

Having qualified on pole position in Australia, Hamilton was visibly disappointed to only finish third as his team-mate Jenson Button won the season-opening race. In Malaysia, however, Hamilton was more content with the same result behind Fernando Alonso and Sergio Perez as he outscored those who he expects to be his main championship rivals.

Looking ahead to the Chinese Grand Prix Hamilton said that race wins were not the most important results at this stage of the season, but that he felt McLaren needs to continue to outscore its rivals while it has the quickest car.

"I won't deny that I'm disappointed to have had two pole positions and not to have been able to convert either of them into victories," Hamilton said. "But I prefer to think of it that luck just hasn't been on my side, and that it will swing my way sooner or later.

"I also think last year taught me the value of consistency: it's no use chasing a great result if you can't back it up with another strong finish the following week. So maybe I'm just playing myself in gently: after all, in 2007, I didn't win a race until the sixth round, and I was in the hunt for the title all through the year. I still don't think the pecking order has settled down yet, so it's important to get some good results in the bag while we can. It will be very interesting to see how the order has shaken itself out over the last three weeks - it's going to be an interesting weekend."

Hamilton also confirmed that he was taking positives from both his start to the season and the form of the team.

"I'm looking at the championship as a whole - although, of course, I'd love to win every race, it's more important to be in a good points-scoring position at every race. I think the first two races have shown that, as a team, we're definitely in positions to win.

"I think Malaysia was a good example of how to pick up points when you're looking at the championship - and that was something I really took away as a positive from that race. But yeah, I'll be heading to China looking to win - but it's just as important to pick up some good points if, for whatever reason, a win isn't on the cards."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.