Hamilton discounts chance of defending title

New Delhi: Reigning Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton on Saturday ruled out retaining the title this season, saying there was no way he could catch up with championship leader Jenson Button. "I really don`t know what will happen in the remaining seven races," the McLaren driver told reporters during a day-long trip to the Indian capital.

"It will be very, very hard to catch up with Button. He is already ahead of me by too many points. Even if I achieve the maximum points in the last seven races, I will not be able to overtake him." Hamilton won the Hungarian Grand Prix on Sunday, marking a turnaround for the team which struggled badly in the opening half of the season. Button, who won six of the opening seven races, has now gone three without a podium but is still the favourite to win the coveted title with 70 points against Hamilton`s 19. "It (the Hungarian win) was very important," said Hamilton. "We have started to turn around things.” "I keep telling the team that we have to keep on pushing. Some teams are starting to have problems while others are starting to get things right.” "We expect to be more competitive in the last seven races," the Briton said. Hamilton said the first half of the season had been very tough for his entire team, especially as they entered into the fray as defending champions. "As for me, I wake up every morning wanting to win the next weekend. The last two races I could feel a spark inside me. But having said that, it will be very tough for the rest of the season." The Briton also said he was excited about competing for the first time with Michael Schumacher. "To be on the same race track as the legend, is personally very exciting for me. I just can`t wait to compete alongside Schumacher," he said. Seven-time world champion Schumacher accepted Ferrari`s offer to replace injured Brazilian Felipe Massa at next month`s European Grand Prix in Valencia after quitting Formula One in 2006. Bureau Report