Hamilton: Vettel is strong F1 title favorite

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton is now 89 points behind Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel in the drivers' standings.Lewis Hamilton rues his poor start to Sunday's European Grand PrixThe British driver also admits it's going to be tough to catch Sebastian VettelHamilton is currently fourth in the drivers' standings, 89 points behind VettelThe German says he enjoyed a 'faultless' weekend in Valencia

Lewis Hamilton has rued the poor start he made to Sunday's European Grand Prix and conceded Sebastian Vettel is now the overwhelming favorite to claim the Formula One world title.

The McLaren driver, 26, began the Valencia race third on the grid, but the 2008 world champion was overtaken by the Ferrari duo of Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa off the line and could only manage a fourth place finish.

It was Vettel's sixth win from eight races so far this season and the reigning title holder is now 77 points ahead of McLaren's Jenson Button and his Red Bull teammate Mark Webber, who are currently tied for second.

Hamilton is 12 points further back in fourth position and he admitted the British team lacked the performance necessary to compete.

"Twelve points is a decent haul after the last two races," Hamilton, who crashed out of the Canadian Grand Prix, said in an official McLaren press release.

We can't beat the Red Bulls right now, we just can't
--Lewis Hamilton

"So I can't really complain. However, in terms of performance, we weren't as quick today as we've been in the last three races."

Turning his attention to the Red Bull team, Hamilton admitted it is going to be difficult to reel in the 2010 constructors' champions.

"We can't beat the Red Bulls right now. We just can't. They would need to fall off the track for me to beat them.

"There was over a second per lap difference today. That is just ridiculous," he was reported as saying by British newspaper The Guardian.

"We're not giving up. I'm just being realistic. The fact is there are almost 100 points between me and Sebastian. And they finished 50 seconds or something ahead of us today."

Vettel, 23, is the first driver to finish in the top two of the opening eight rounds of the season and the German said his victory on the street circuit was particularly satisfying.

"From the outside, I'm not sure if it seemed that much was happening in the race," Vettel told the sport's official web site. "But I enjoy it so much when it's between you and the car on every single lap.

"I enjoy this track a lot, last year I had a very smooth weekend here and again this year too. It's fantastic, the team has done a phenomenal job preparing the car.

"Even though we come here every year and think it may be tricky for us, as there are no real fast corners, we managed to come here and have a faultless weekend. I'm obviously very happy with the result."

The British Grand Prix is the next stop on Formula One's world tour, with the Silverstone race set to take place on July 10.

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Hamilton predicts 'best British GP ever'

Lewis Hamilton made his Formula One debut in 2007 and clinched his first world championship in 2008.Lewis Hamilton has predicted the 2011 British Grand Prix could be the best-everThe McLaren driver's future has been the subject of press speculationTeam principal Martin Whitmarsh is confident Hamilton will remain with the marque

(CNN) -- McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton has predicted the 2011 British Grand Prix at Silverstone could be the most exciting in history.

The 2008 world champion won his home race during a victorious campaign three years ago and Hamilton described the maximum-points haul as one of the highlights of his motorsport career.

"I'm really looking forward to Silverstone," Hamilton told Formula One's official web site.

"My victory at Silverstone in 2008 was one of the sweetest and most satisfying moments of my entire Formula One career -- and it's a memory that I always carry with me.

Impressive Vettel powers to another win

Lewis loves this team and he knows the car is capable of winning races
--Martin Whitmarsh

"It's one of the best circuits in the world, and I really think that the arrival of DRS and KERS Hybrid will make this one of the best and most exciting British Grand Prix ever."

KERS -- an innovation that stores energy created under braking for user as an additional boost when accelerating -- was reintroduced to the sport in 2011, while DRS (Drag Reduction System) allows the rear wing of Formula One cars to be adjusted in a way that gives a boost of speed in new for the current season.

Hamilton is currently fourth in the drivers' standings after eight races, 89 points behind current leader and reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull.

The 26-year-old's future has been the subject of much speculation, with reports suggesting he could leave McLaren for the 2011 constructors' champions Red Bull.

But McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh moved to end talk of Hamilton switching allegiances, and said he expects the Stevenage-born racer to remain with the British-based marque.

"Lewis loves this team and he knows the car is capable of winning races," Whitmarsh told British newspaper The Independent.

"He's sat with me here in the last 10 days and explained his passion, enthusiasm and desire to remain part of this team.

"I've known him since he was 11. I don't think he would look me in the eye and say that if he didn't mean it."

Sunday's grand prix will also see McLaren's Jenson Button return to his homeland, where his best finish is fourth place in 2004 and 2010.

The 2009 drivers' champion is 12 points ahead of his compatriot Hamilton and sits second in the standings, 77 points behind Germany's Vettel.

The 31-year-old is looking forward to experiencing the new-look Silverstone, which has a newly-constructed pit lane and paddock complex and first corner.

"With a new start line, a new first corner and an all-new pit and paddock complex, the new facilities should be fantastic," the former Brawn GP driver said. "I think they'll confirm Silverstone as one of the best circuits in the world."

McLaren have claimed two race triumphs this year, with Hamilton taking the checkered flag in China and Button winning a rain-soaked contest in Canada.

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Button: I've apologized to Hamilton

Jenson Button (left) and Lewis Hamilton (right) have been teammates since the start of the 2010 season.Jenson Button has apologized to Lewis Hamilton after their collision at Canadian GPThe British pair are currently second and fourth in the drivers' championshipHamilton has said McLaren need a car as fast as Red Bull to catch Sebastian Vettel

(CNN) -- McLaren's Jenson Button has told CNN he apologized to teammate Lewis Hamilton after their collision at June's Canadian Grand Prix.

Button, the 2009 drivers' champion, secured his first race win of the season at the rain-soaked race in Montreal, overtaking Red Bull's world championship leader Sebastian Vettel on the final lap.

But while Button celebrated, his compatriot Hamilton -- who claimed the world title in 2008 -- was forced to retire from proceedings following a clash between the two after seven laps.

Despite their coming together in Montreal, the colleagues insist that it has not soured their relationship heading into this weekend's British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

Hamilton predicts "best British Grand Prix ever"

"I had to say sorry," said the 31-year-old. "I didn't even know who was there. When you are racing together wheel-to-wheel a lot of the time, there's a possibility of touching. But that was just one of those things, I had no clue he was there."

When you are racing together wheel-to-wheel a lot of the time, there's a possibility of touching
--Jenson Button

"That's what racing is," agreed Hamilton, 26. "In those conditions you can't see a thing. It's crazy, every lap I was having to wipe my helmet."

After his late lapse in Canada, reigning drivers' champion Vettel bounced back emphatically to clinch the European Grand Prix in Valencia -- his sixth win from eight races so far.

The German already has a 77-point lead over second placed Button in this year's championship, and the 23-year-old is a further 12 points ahead of Hamilton.

When asked how to stop Vettel's march towards a second world crown, Hamilton's answer was simple: "We just need to get a faster car, as fast as theirs, then I don't think we'll be having too many problems."

Hamilton has drawn comparisons with three-time world champion Ayrton Senna for his aggressive driving during the season, a style of racing which has seen him take numerous post-race trips to the steward's office.

Senna died after a fatal crash during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix at Imola and Hamilton admits to idolizing the Brazilian.

Remembering Senna: King of Monaco

"I always wanted to try and emulate him," said Hamilton. "To study his videos and study him as much as I could before I even got to Formula One. And, I'm probably still learning things from him."

In contrast to Hamilton, Button said his role model as a youngster was Senna's fierce rival and former teammate -- French four-time championship winner Alain Prost.

"I really liked his style of driving," revealed Button. "Both of them for me were very special drivers.

Latest Formula One standings

"When I was growing up in the late 1980's I was eight, nine years old and that's when I started go carting. I remember watching these two fighting as teammates and it was great to watch, some of the best times in Formula 1 history."

Button has never finished higher than fourth at his home race -- in 2004 and 2010 -- but the former Brawn GP driver said the fans make Silverstone a unique venue.

"It's very special. You got the home crowd support and I remember going there last year and just seeing a sea of rocket red caps [McLaren's color], so it's a good atmosphere."

The British Grand Prix will be the ninth round of the Formula One season, with the German Grand Prix at the Nurburgring set to take place on July 24.

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