The fight is with the car - Hamilton admits not being in the running for 2022 title

Lewis Hamilton said he had no hope of winning a record eighth Formula 1 title this season after he finished 13th in the Italian Grand Prix's, held at Imola.

The seven-time world champion crossed the line one lap behind winner Max Verstappen after just 63 laps of racing in Imola.

World champion Verstappen led the race from start to finish.

But Hamilton endured another woeful afternoon in his desperately uncompetitive Mercedes machine. The British driver started 14th and only managed to cross the finish line in 13th place.

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#ImolaGPLet’s do this ?? pic.twitter.com/j47iX7M1UA

Not in the fight

37-year-old Hamilton said: "We are obviously not fighting for the championship. We are fighting to understand the car, improve, and progress through the year. That's all we can hope for now. Ultimately we haven't got it right, but everyone's working as hard as they can to reverse it."

Hamilton's remit is to win and, although he is only starting the first of a new two-year deal which is expected to earn him £80million, he will not be content on making up the numbers.

But the Mercedes driver added: "I am 100% committed to this team, and there is nowhere else I want to be. Just because we have hit a rough patch, it is not in my DNA to pack up. We are still world champions, and we can fix this. It is just going to take longer than expected, and it will be a painful year that we will have to ride out together."

Hamilton and his Mercedes team are attempting to remain positive following their unsatisfactory start to the new campaign.

In the race, Hamilton's teammate George Russell finish in fourth place.

George crosses the line in P4 to salvage points from a