Lewis Hamilton still doesn't think he's leading the F1 title race

Lewis Hamilton still doesn't accept he holds the lead of the world championship despite being 19 points ahead of team-mate Nico Rosberg in the standings following his dominant win of the German GP. 

Hamilton faces an engine penalty after the summer break - which is expected to be taken as a "double hit" that would automatically mean the Mercedes driver will start a race from the back of the grid - and said upon arriving at Hockenheim with a six-point lead he still felt he was playing catch-up against Rosberg. 

"I feel like l am closer to leading it," the world champion joked after securing his 49th F1 win with a faultless display at Hockenheim. "We do have a penalty up ahead, this engine has done amazing to get to where we are and I'm super grateful for the life it has led and the laps we've led with it. It's as good a buffer as I could get with the circumstances."

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After Rosberg won four successive races at the start of what is proving to be a roller-coaster campaign, Hamilton has burst back with six victories in seven races heading into F1's summer holidays. 

"He will take some beating from here," suggested Sky F1's Martin Brundle. "But Rosberg hasn't won all those races and pole positions by luck. Never underestimate Nico. Lewis knows just as well as anyone how quickly things can turn around."

But the German's title prospects were further dented at Hockenheim when a bad start from pole position was compounded by a penalty for forcing Max Verstappen off the track when he sought to overtake the Red Bull driver.

"There will be some bumps before the end of the year where Lewis loses some traction and loses some ground," predicted former world champion Damon Hill. "But this must be very hard for Nico. I think he's tried everything he can think of and I'm not sure there are many more tricks up his sleeves."

Hamilton wins to increase lead

Lewis Hamilton increased his lead of the world championship to 19 points with victory in Germany.

While Rosberg struggled to make any inroads behind the two Red Bulls, Hamilton was able to cruise to victory despite turning down his engine in an attempt to expand its shelf-life. 

"It was a great race for me. I wasn't expecting to be as strong as l was. I'm just super happy," Hamilton told Sky Sports F1.

"I delivered the way l am supposed to. I had pace, l worked the tyres just right and l was never under pressure from the guys behind. And no mistakes - no offs, no lock-ups, which is great.

Only when Ricciardo threatened to challenge Hamilton with ten laps remaining did the Mercedes driver reveal his car's full capabilities. 

"When the gap came down to six seconds l thought 'that's enough' and l turned it up. I was just making sure l kept them at bay."

While members of his race crew are now heading to Ibiza for a stag party, Hamilton himself is planning to spend his summer holiday on the beach.

"It's going to be the most amazing summer break. All I can say is tomorrow I'm going to be on the beach, sipping on a pina colada and enjoying the sun! I'm going to be smiling from ear to ear from today and these last few races."

Don't miss the F1 Report: German GP review and half-term report on Wednesday at 8.30pm on Sky F1 with Natalie Pinkham, Marc Priestley and Mike Gascoyne