Jul.21 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton believes his 12 point championship lead over his teammate Jenson Button is "strange".

"It's strange," he told the Telegraph whilst visiting Italy to collect the 2010 Bandini award.

"I've had four solid races - two wins and two second places - and yet I'm only 12 points ahead," explained Hamilton.

The 25-year-old's solid results have all come in succession, but fellow McLaren driver Button has also won twice and finished second on two occasions so far in 2010.

Hamilton's slightly bigger haul of points is explained by a further two podium finishes, while Button's only other podium came at Valencia.

"We'll have to see how it goes but if I can increase that gap a bit I'll certainly be happier," said championship leader Hamilton.

Team boss Martin Whitmarsh said on Tuesday that Hamilton's lead is not yet big enough for him to be regarded as de facto number one.

And with the quicker Red Bull cars not far behind his drivers' tallies, he is also not writing off Ferrari's chasing Fernando Alonso.

"I also think it's too early to write off Mercedes. Red Bull clearly are the principle challenge at the moment, but I don't dismiss the others," said Whitmarsh.

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