
Lewis Hamilton knows now is the time for a cool, calm, collected head in the wake of back-to-back wins that have reignited his Formula One world title challenge.
It would be easy for euphoria to set in after Hamilton's majestic drives at Silverstone a fortnight ago and at Hockenheim on Sunday in which he has been in a league of his own.
Let us not forget that exactly four weeks ago Hamilton was being put through the proverbial wringer after failing to score in his previous two races.
The 23-year-old's on-track failures, as well as his private life, were being dissected from every angle, and at that stage it appeared he could do little right.
But four weeks on, Hamilton is now the toast of the sport again after taking a four-point lead in the championship in which he is now 4-7 to win the title.
But with eight races remaining, Hamilton knows as easily as the situation has remarkably turned in his favour, it could all go so horribly wrong again.
"It's too early to say that I'm now the man to beat," assessed Hamilton.
"We're looking strong, looking good, and we're in a good position, but as you know in a Formula One season things change, teams always make steps here and there.
"As you saw last year we were swapping and changing, so in the next few races I don't know what to expect.
"All I know is we will have a competitive car, and if we can keep challenging for wins, then great.
"I've said it before, but we've really transformed this year's car over the past six weeks.
"It's now so well-balanced and responsive, it just feels fantastic to drive. You can always trust it and get something more out of it.
"But I'm not going to say the other guys need to pull their finger out or something like that.
"All I know is we just need to keep on pushing, as simple as that, as I'm sure everyone else will.
"So far the team have done a great job, and we are really on top of our game right now.
"But we cannot get too far ahead of ourselves. We have got a lot of work to do for the rest of the season, although if we can continue with this momentum we're looking very good.
"Now it's on to the next race, with Hungary a very good one for us, so fingers crossed."
It was at the Hungaroring a year ago McLaren's season truly began to spectacularly unravel.
Hamilton was involved in a qualifying furore with then team-mate Fernando Alonso before going on to win the race.
It emerged later in the season team boss Ron Dennis had a bust-up with Alonso on the morning of the grand prix relating to the spy scandal that ultimately led to the Spaniard's departure.
But a year on, and with this year's race in Hungary on the horizon, Dennis said: "I think you can see there is harmony now."
It all bodes well for Hamilton to become the first British driver since Damon Hill at the start of the 1996 season to win three successive races.
"We've had a very dominant performance in Germany, and we will try and carry it," added Dennis.
"As I mentioned in France, we knew we would be strong in Britain and Germany, and we are working very hard to be strong in Hungary too.
"I can't see us being any less strong there, although the car will look a bit different, so we will see."


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