Lewis Hamilton is confident his McLaren MP4-23 will be fast enough at Magny-Cours to allow him to recover from his 10-place grid penalty with a top five race finish.
The title-chasing Briton will start no higher than 11th on Sunday after being penalised for crashing into Kimi Raikkonen in the pit lane at the previous race in Montreal – meaning he is likely to lose more ground to his main rivals in the points standings.
Lewis Hamilton believes this weekend’s French Grand Prix will be “spiced up” by his 10-place grid penalty.
“I don’t think I have any less pressure this weekend,” said Hamilton, who along with Felipe Massa is four points adrift of championship leader Robert Kubica, and three clear of Raikkonen.
“At the back (of the grid) I think there’s more work for me to do. Considering we’re all so close in the championship, I guess it spices it up a bit, if that’s what they want.
“It’s going to be harder coming from the back, but I don’t have any doubts or any worries.
“I think we’re going to have a very strong package this weekend and I think the car will be as good, if not better, than it was in the last race.
“With that pace, and as long as we stay out of trouble, we should be able to score some good points.”
“I didn’t win the last race, but I’m loving this. I get to come back here, work with the guys and push forward; there’s a great atmosphere, always pushing to get better and I wouldn’t change it for the world. I’m really enjoying myself now.”
“You can’t lose this circuit,” Hamilton stressed. “It’s got real character and class and it’s been around for years. If you lose it, F1 won’t be the same.
“I don’t get involved in the politics, but anything I can do to help [the British Grand Prix], I will. I feel the business is getting stronger, and stands a stronger chance of saving it.”
The 23-year-old added that he wasn’t yet sure what fuel strategy the team will be employing to give him the best chance of a strong race.
“Obviously it would be nice to qualify on the front row which would put us just outside the top 10 but I don’t know,” he said.
“I will have to wait and speak to my engineers.”
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