McLaren need to up the pace – Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton has urged McLaren to try and improve their car to keep up with the likes of Red Bull and Ferrari in order to keep alive his hopes of winning the world championship ().

The British 2008 champion had to settle for a fourth-placed finish at Sunday’s German Grand Prix which was enough to keep him at the top of the standings ahead of team-mate Jenson Button, who finished in fifth spot at Hockenheim.

However Hamilton is aware that Red Bull duo Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber, along with Sunday’s winner Fernando Alonso of Ferrari, are all catching him up, while McLaren’s lead in the constructor standings () is down to 28 ahead of Red Bull.

Therefore he wants the team to find ways of getting the car on to a level playing field with their rivals to keep alive their title hopes.

Hamilton said: “The Ferraris and Red Bulls have picked up some serious pace.

“We have to go back to the drawing board and try to figure out where we’re losing time and try to pick it up.”