Defiant Hamilton talks up title chances

Lewis Hamilton says he is still in with a fighting chance of winning the Formula One world championship, despite seeing Nico Rosberg overtake him in the standings after the German’s win at the Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday.

Rosberg led from the front after qualifying on pole to record his third straight victory and he now holds an eight-point lead over Hamilton, who finished third at the Marina Bay Street Circuit after enduring braking issues throughout the gruelling night race.

Hamilton briefly lost third place to the Ferrari of Kimi Raikkonen, but a smart pit strategy earned an undercut for the driver and ensured he finished on the podium, but it was a frustrating race for the Briton.

“Definitely not [a great weekend] but firstly big congratulations to Nico – he drove fantastically all weekend,” said Hamilton.

“This weekend has been a tricky one for me but I’m just happy to get on the podium and get some points for the team.

“The brakes were way overheating so I had to slow down. Once I did my second or third stop we managed to sort it out.

“It’s a lot different to when I was here last year but I’m still in the fight and I’m going to give it everything I’ve got.”

Hamilton’s scrap with Raikkonen was one of the most dramatic individual battles of the day and the three-time champion was pleased to come out on top.

“We were both pushing quite hard in that stint and we both wouldn’t have made it to the end at that pace we were going,” Hamilton said.

“I was pushing on that out lap to see if we could undercut him, and fortunately we did.”