Hamilton not taking Rosberg's points lead lightly

The Briton's difficult start to the campaign, against Rosberg's hat trick of wins, has left him 36 points adrift after just three races.

And although there are still 18 races left to recover the gap, Hamilton has said he is not simply ignoring the fact that he has lost good ground in the title chase.

"I don't look at it lightly and I don't look at it as though it is not a big deal," he said. "It is a big deal. It is 36 points, it is a lot of points because it is a race and a bit.

"I don't take it for granted that it is a big step. I know I have a lot of work to do and I don't look at it and think it is nothing. It is steep, I can't deny it.

"But on the flipside I have come back from a shorter time from 29 points [adrift]. It is 18 races and an average of two points per race I believe, so it is not impossible. And as long as it is not impossible I will keep working."

Start issues sorted

Hamilton's failure to win in the first three races have been influenced by problems at the first corner at each race.

In Australia, after a slow getaway, he lost position after being forced wide by Nico Rosberg; in Bahrain he was caught from behind by Valtteri Bottas while in China he lost his front wing after starting from the back.

Despite that woe, Hamilton has faith that his start woes have now been sorted judging by his good getaway from the lights in Shanghai.

"I don't' think I need to do any more now," he said. "I had the best start of the whole grid at the last race, so we have been working on that issue and obviously I got a good start.

"The last two races I have been driving with a loss of performance of nearly a second at each race, and it is not so easy.

"I am hoping for a clean weekend, and apply the clean start I have got going for me, and hopefully move on from there. I have still had two poles, and I didn't get to do qualifying at last race."