
Lewis Hamilton will push himself physically through Formula One's summer break to ensure he has the stamina for the title fight.
After 11 races of the season, the sport now enjoys a short sojourn before the F1 circus pitches up in Valencia for the European Grand Prix in three weeks' time.
For the drivers, it is a chance to rest up, clear their minds and recharge the batteries as they are free from testing or sponsorship commitments.
Hamilton will initially take a couple of days off, but then it will be a case of focusing on his training regime as he is determined to remain the self-styled fittest driver in F1.
"I'll have some time to recover from this race and the first half of the season," said the McLaren star who currently holds a five-point lead after Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix.
"We've no commitments outside of the racing world, so we can just focus on our training, our fitness to make sure we are ready for the second half of the season.
"There's still a long way to go, so I'm going to make sure I work very hard and that physically I am well prepared.
"I want to make sure we keep up with the performance we have."
It was a point emphasised by team boss Ron Dennis who said: "Lewis is very fit anyway.
"But he has definitely set himself up for a more intense training programme for the next three weeks."
Dennis acknowledges Hamilton would perhaps prefer no break at all, which will be the case for next year's calendar.
He added: "When a driver is doing well all he wants to do is get in the car and race.
"That's understandable, but he'd be the first to recognise this break is absolutely essential for the team, mechanics and all the people who travel.
"They don't get the right amount of time with their families, and this gives them an opportunity to have at least one week where they are not at the office or workshops.
"It's a key ingredient of keeping people motivated and happy when you are addressing the calendar, which makes next year's difficult for them.
"We will have to accommodate that by rotating people. They will not be expected to go right through the season.
"Lewis will have his wish next year - he'll be racing every other week at least."
Hamilton was denied at least second place, and potentially a third successive race victory given Felipe Massa's engine blow out on his Ferrari three laps from home, by a puncture on lap 41.
The 23-year-old eventually finished fifth, but with Massa's demise he managed to marginally extend his title lead, with Kimi Raikkonen now his closest challenger.
The chequered flag was instead taken for the first time by Heikki Kovalainen, the Finn becoming F1's 100th winner.
Although fortuitous as Kovalainen was clearly third best behind Hamilton and Massa, it capped a superb week after confirmation on Thursday he is to remain with the team for next season.
"Heikki is going to benefit from knowing he has a secure position next year," added Dennis.
"It was the right time to tell him, to show him we have belief in his abilities because clearly he is super quick, no question about that."
Kovalainen has undoubtedly had his fair share of rotten luck this year, however Dennis feels he could arguably do with catching up with Hamilton in the fitness stakes.
"He is still not quite where we want him to be," said Dennis.
"But we knew it would take time because that was the assessment Aki Hintsa (Head of Human Performance) made at the start of the season
"But when he gets into full physical condition then he's going to be an outstanding driver."
Dennis certainly believes in Kovalainen, whose win came in his 28th career race, compared to McLaren's former double world champion Mika Hakkinen who had to wait until his 95th to break his duck.
"Heikki has a long way to go in his career," added Dennis.
"We believe he's only going to improve, whilst like Lewis he is a tremendous team player, and that gets the absolute best out of our team."


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