"We're in the strongest position we've been in all year," declares Hamilton after Hungary win moves him above Rosberg in title fight
Monday 25 July 2016 20:57, UK
New 2016 championship leader Lewis Hamilton believes his crash with Nico Rosberg at May's Spanish GP has proved the "turning point" of his season.
The reigning world champion dislodged Rosberg from the head of the Drivers' Championship for the first time this year with a controlled victory in Hungary on Sunday - his fifth win in the six races since the Mercedes' came together on the first lap at Barcelona.
Before that collision, Hamilton had failed to win any of the first four rounds and Rosberg had built up a commanding 43-point title lead.
But two months on, and having now opened up a six-point advantage in his favour, a reflective Hamilton was quoted as saying by the Guardian: "I think Spain was definitely a turning point.
"It didn't feel like it was but it was rock bottom basically. The only way was up. I just managed to get my head together and get my s*** together and get on with it, even though I have less engines, my mechanics had been changed.
How did Hamilton grade in Driver Ratings?
"All these different things which didn't seem to be working. I just had to deal with it. Since then we've pulled together."
Hamilton has outscored Rosberg by 49 points in the six races since Spain, with the German's only win during that period coming in Baku when the Briton crashed in qualifying.
"I honestly feel we're in the strongest position we've been in all year," added the world champion.
In addition to claiming the leadership of the world championship a race ahead of F1's summer break, Hamilton also set a new record for most victories at the Hungarian GP.
WATCH: Ted's Hungarian GP Notebook
The 31-year-old's five wins place him one ahead of Michael Schumacher and Hamilton admitted he was proud of the achievement.
"It's pretty incredible to hear those words - especially when you think I grew up watching Michael so to now have had similar, if not one more, than he had here, is just incredible," he said.
"But I wouldn't have been able to do it without the great people I've worked with, both at McLaren-Mercedes and now here. It's a result of great work from such a large group of people. I'm really just a chink in the chain. I love it here.
"I hope there's more to come before I stop."
Don't miss the F1 Report: Hungarian GP review on Sky Sports F1 at 8.30pm on Wednesday as Marc Priestley and Ben Hunt join Natalie Pinkham in the studio to discuss the fallout from the Budapest race.
