Season continues at Belgian GP this weekend, live on Sky Sports F1
Monday 29 August 2016 10:46, UK
Lewis Hamilton says he is raring to go for the second half of the 2016 season as Formula 1 returns this weekend at the Belgian Grand Prix.
The British driver travels to Spa with a 19-point lead over Nico Rosberg in the Drivers' Championship, having been 43 points behind his Mercedes team-mate earlier in the season.
Hamilton's summer break has included trips to New York, Mexico, Costa Rica and the Caribbean, but the world champion insists he is fully focused after a "rollercoaster" first half of the campaign.
"It's crazy how quickly this year is going by," he said. "It seems like a few weeks ago we were in Barcelona for winter testing and now we're through the summer break, heading to Spa.
"The first half of the season was a bit of a rollercoaster, so it's great to be in the position I'm in with more than half of the races behind us. There will be more up and downs to come, I'm sure. But the way myself and the team have performed so far gives me huge confidence.
"I'm feeling refreshed, re-energised and ready to go after a fun few weeks off, so hopefully everyone else has had a good rest too and we'll come out fighting."
Schumacher's Spa debut recalled
Despite losing such a hefty lead in the title battle, Rosberg says he has put it behind him over the summer break and insists the second half of the season will be like a fresh start.
"For me, it's like a clean slate at this stage. What's happened so far this season is in the past," he said.
"I can't wait to get in that car, put my foot down and get everything I can from these next races. Belgium is a great place to kick-start the year after the break."
Mercedes team chief Toto Wolff, meanwhile, believes the battle to finish on top at the end of the season is far from over, despite Hamilton's advantage.
"There are more than 200 points to be won in their title battle and a lot of racing to be done yet," he said. "Lewis is on an impressive run, just like Nico had at the end of last season and into this one."
