Hamilton praises spirit

McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton has praised his team's fighting spirit ahead of next Sunday's Italian Formula 1 Grand Prix at Monza.

Hamilton's victory in August's Belgian Grand Prix gave him a three-point lead over Australian Mark Webber in in the drivers' championship standings, and the 25-year-old said the team's will to win was the difference at Spa Francorchamps.

"Our victory in Belgium showed that, as a team, we never give up, and that we'll always bounce back from adversity feeling stronger and more determined than before," Hamilton said.

"This team has such an incredible fighting spirit - we strive to win, and I hope that Spa is only the start of a run of stronger form for us as we head into the final races of the championship."

With six races to go this season, the championship is still very much up for grabs. Just 41 points separate the first five drivers.

After Hamilton, on 182 points, and Webber, on 179, the chasing pack is made up of German Sebastian Vettel (151) Englishman Jenson Button (147) and Spaniard Fernando Alonso (141).

Hamilton is targeting his first win at Monza, where he finished a disappointing 12th last year, and he thinks he can go one better than the second he claimed there in 2007.

"I've made no secret of my wish to win this race," Hamilton said. "Monza is an incredible circuit - full of history and stories from the past."

"It has a special feeling in the air that you don't find anywhere else in the world. It's a circuit that inspires you to race at your limit, and I'll be pushing hard all weekend."