Hamilton ready to launch assault after break

McLaren chief Martin Whitmarsh believes the drivers’ and constructors’ championships are “up for grabs” following Lewis Hamilton’s Hungarian Grand Prix victory.

McLaren have bounced back impressively from a worrying slump of form at Valencia and Silverstone with strong performances in Germany, where Jenson Button finished second, and at the Hungaroring.

Despite his well-judged win, which saw him fend off pressure from Lotus team-mates Romain Grosjean and Kimi Raikkonen, Hamilton remains 47 points adrift of championship leader Fernando Alonso.

In the constructors’ standings, McLaren have moved up to second place, 53 points adrift of Red Bull.

Boosted by the team’s 178th victory, Whitmarsh believes they are firmly in the title picture as F1’s month-long summer break gets under way.

He said: “Although Lewis is still a little way behind the drivers’ world championship leader, he’s now very well placed to mount an assault on the drivers’ world championship crown over the remaining nine races of the season. Believe me, it’s still all up for grabs.

“In the constructors’ world championship, we’re in a good position from which to work as hard as is humanly possible to close the gap on the leaders and wrest the laurels by season’s end.

“We’ll now take our holidays, we’ll recharge our batteries, and we’ll return at Spa-Francorchamps in a month’s time, fighting fit and ready to do battle once again.”

While Hamilton took the spoils, second-placed Raikkonen’s future was in the spotlight following yet another impressive drive.

Rumours have linked the 2007 world champion with a return to Ferrari, with Felipe Massa rumoured to be on his way out, and he did not rule out the possibility.

But Lotus chief Eric Boullier is confident Raikkonen will remain with the Enstone-based operation in 2013.

Red Bull chief Christian Horner hit out at the constant questioning his team are facing over the legality of their RB8.

But Horner dismissed the controversies, stating: “At the end of the day it’s all down to the FIA and the stewards to decide whether the car’s legal or not. Every single time our car has been questioned by other teams it has always been compliant with the rules.”