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Hamilton fascinated by Mercedes 'quick fixes'

In the face of a challenging season, Lewis Hamilton says Mercedes' ability to quickly remedy any issues that emerge over a race weekend is simply "crazy".

Ferrari is once again giving the Silver Arrows team a run for its money, with the Scuderia often outperforming its rival in qualifying and sustaining a performance advantage over Mercedes.

But the German squad's reaction time to counter Ferrari's edge or improve issues of its own is still what truly impresses Hamilton.

"Ferrari have taken a step ahead, they have really taken a step up, particularly in their qualifying performance," said the four-time world champion.

"We are under no illusion that we have to work hard to battle against.

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"That’s the coolest thing about this team. They just keep their head down. They don’t make any complaints. They’re just like we have to do better.

"You’ll see if we have an issue on Saturday or Sunday, already it’s on the design board, and we’ll have fixes for this week," he added.

"For me, it’s crazy, that they can already come up with a fix, so intelligent the people we have back at the factory. That fascinates me."

Thanks to two consecutive wins in the last two races, Hamilton has built up a 24-point cushion in the title fight against Vettel.

Both drivers are targeting a fifth world championship this season, a milestone achievement that would put them on a par with the legendary Juan Manuel Fangio.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.