Lewis Hamilton in contention for title after tearful win

LEWIS Hamilton kept his emotions in check long enough to blaze to a first victory for his new Mercedes team and put himself into contention for the championship.

Hamilton back in contnetion

LEWIS Hamilton kept his emotions in check long enough to blaze to a first victory for his new Mercedes team and put himself into contention for the Formula One world championship

It was an enthralling victory packed with decisive overtaking moves that prompted Niki Lauda, the three-times world champion and Mercedes chairman, to describe Hamilton's blistering passing as "some of the best I have ever seen".

The win brought a wide smile from Hamilton for the first time in what seems weeks, during which he has struggled to cope with his break-up with Nicole Scherzinger, his long-time girlfriend. Hamilton dedicated his victory to "the woman I love ... the special one".

Hamilton has sometimes cut a lonely and depressed figure in the Mercedes motorhome as he tries to get over his difficulties with the singer and X Factor judge.

He welled up during television interviews as he struggled to contain emotions repressed throughout a series of turbulent grands prix.

His performances on the track have not been affected, though. Pole position in Hungary was his third in a row and the victory has been a long time coming, although Hamilton confessed he was surprised that his car was able to get to the finish without destroying its Pirelli tyres in the same way that it has all season. Even after taking pole position - the thirtieth of his career that moves him ahead of Juan Manuel Fangio in the all-time list - he declared that a victory would be "a miracle".

The need for victory was heightened by the relentless criticism of his private life, including buying a pounds 20million jet to help ferry him from Scherzinger's Los Angeles home to grand-prix circuits around the world. There was also the suspicion that he had sold out by ditching McLaren, the team who brought him into F1 and made him the 2008 world champion, to move to Mercedes for a pounds 20million-a-year deal.

That was a gamble he was prepared to take for greater freedom and the chance to establish a dynasty of his own at a fledgeling team who had underperformed for three seasons, even with Michael Schumacher at the helm.

Hamilton took over from Schumacher and gave his team, backed with German money but based in Brackley, Northamptonshire, something to celebrate last night.

"When I signed (for Mercedes) I didn't think I would win a race this season," Hamilton said. "At the first race of the season, I thought there was potential but it was ifs and buts. Now I have a picture of the guys back at the factory celebrating.

"This is surely one of the most important wins of my career. To move to a new team and win for Mercedes Benz is a real privilege. We had no idea it was going to go that well."

Hamilton is playing down his world title aspirations as F1 heads into a three-week summer break before the championship cranks up again for a hectic final ten races.

Hamilton will be alone for this holiday season for the first time in five years and has decided to plunge into a tough training regime.

"For the next few days, this will keep me riding high," Hamilton said. "It is a natural high and a bit of a Band-Aid that will cover me for some time. I will be training over the break. I normally enjoy it and relax but this time I am going to train, keep my head down and hopefully come back stronger."

The Times