LEWIS HAMILTON said today that his victory in Azerbaijan has not provided him with renewed hope that he can beat Sebastian Vettel to this year’s Formula One world championship.

Hamilton will contest the opening leg of the European season in Barcelona a week on Sunday with a four-point lead over Vettel after ending his six-race losing streak yesterday.

The 33-year-old British driver did so, however, in the most fortunate of circumstances as he took advantage of a number of incidents during another chaotic chapter of this unpredictable and fascinating season.