Hamilton: In pole position

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Former world champion Mika Hakkinen believes a "more mature" Lewis Hamilton is on course to ending McLaren's title drought.

Hakkinen won the last of McLaren's Formula One world drivers' championships in 1999 - before Michael Schumacher and Ferrari began to dominate the sport.

However, having seen Hamilton rattle off back-to-back victories to lead the standings by four points, Hakkinen claims that McLaren's long wait for the title could be coming to an end.

Hakkinen said: "I can relate what is happening now to Lewis to when I was racing.

"When I was a young guy at McLaren I was flat out, always at the maximum.

Calm

"Sometimes the excitement took over my thinking and there were times when I went over the top, I made mistakes.

"It took time for me to stabilise myself and calm down a little, and then I got the results.

"That is now the situation with Lewis. He has calmed down and is stable, more mature.

"There is still a way to go this year and a lot of things can still happen, and yes it is a long time since I won McLaren's last title, but I am hopeful this year they can do it.

"They just have to keep working, thinking positively."