Hamilton: Ferrari has "given up" fewer points than Mercedes

Hamilton left Hungary - the final race before F1's summer break - 14 points adrift of Ferrari's championship leader Sebastian Vettel.

He's won as many races as Vettel this season, but a headrest problem in Baku and a gearbox grid penalty in Austria cost Hamilton significant points - and he also lost ground to Vettel on difficult weekends in Russia, Monaco and Hungary.

"We’ve given up a lot of points to this point today," Hamilton said in Hungary. "I think Ferrari have given up a lot less as a team. But we just hope that we don’t give up any more points moving forwards."

On why the Mercedes W08 couldn't take the fight to Ferrari on one-lap pace at the Hungaroring, the Brit said: "I don’t know why we were off pace in qualifying compared to the Ferraris this weekend. Whether or not that will continue in the next race I’ve got no idea.

"I don’t know whether they’ve got an upgrade. I’m not aware of that. Time will tell. Hopefully we’ll go to circuits like Spa and it will be a bit more like Silverstone [where Mercedes scored a 1-2]."

Break has come at a "good time"

Hamilton admitted the season so far has been mentally draining for both himself and the Mercedes outfit, and welcomed the opportunity to recharge that the August break provides.

“I definitely think it’s come at a good time,” he said. “I would say it’s definitely been very tough, physically, mentally and emotionally for everyone in the team, but I can only really speak on my behalf. It’s definitely been a difficult season up to now.

“This break, I think, will be very good for everyone to spend some time with family and whatever they do – recharge and come back hopefully fresh.

"I truly believe that we have the capability of winning this championship, but it’s going to take absolutely 100 percent of everyone’s effort to pull it off.

"I can just encourage my team to come back strong and I’ll try to come back even stronger.”