'Hardest' year will only be won through 'perfect' weekends - Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton has labelled the current 2018 Formula One campaign as the "hardest" he has ever faced both on and off the track, and although his passion to win is bigger than ever, he will need a run of "perfect" weekends in order to win the championship.

Mercedes haven't had everything their own way in the first portion of races in the F1 calendar, but after Hamilton's second GP win of the season in Spain on Sunday, the Silver Arrows now lead the constructor's championship, 27 points clear of Ferrari in second.

Hamilton also leads the standings for the drivers and is currently 17 points ahead of Sebastian Vettel, and he believes he will need to be "perfect" for most of the campaign in order to stay number one.

“Already this is the hardest year that I’ve faced, in the car, at the track, away from the track,” he told Sky Sports F1.

“But the will to want to win this championship is greater than it’s ever been.

“The pressure and the passion that I have to win this championship is far greater than I’ve ever had it. How is that possible because I’ve had it as great as it could be in the past?

“But [I have] the will to want to get this one and do it right, perfect weekend in, weekend out.”

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This week it was revealed that Mercedes and Hamilton are finally set to come to an agreement on the Brit's new contract, with the negotiations having been dragged out over an extended period.

The 2017 champion provided an update on his future in the sport, and although he was previously claimed he would not be in F1 for a long time, he now seems more open to the idea such as the passion he is currently feeling.

“If I keep this feeling then I’m going to be racing for a long time, but we shall see,” Hamilton continued.

“Right now I’ve just got to keep my head down and keep doing what we’ve been doing.”