As he moves into second in the world championship, Lewis Hamilton vows that his recent upturn in form is just the beginning.

OK, bear with us, but imagine, if you will, the folks at F1 Towers, in partnership with their pals at Netflix and Apple, are looking to the perfect storyline to put F1 well and truly on the global map.

Lewis Hamilton, still hurting from the events of Abu Dhabi 2021, and coming off the back of a disappointing debut season with Ferrari, having found love in the arms of reality TV star Kim Kardashian, rediscovers his form and in a season-long battle with his Mercedes successor claims that elusive eighth title. He then drives off into the sunset with Kim, while handing over the mantle of F1's finest to the Italian teenager.

Anyway, speaking to reporters in Barcelona today, Hamilton was asked about the upturn in form which has netted successive podium appearances.

"This is just the beginning really for us as a team," he said. "I've come from a difficult year and seen changes into this season which is really positive and I think we're moving in the right direction, but this is not it.

"We've got more to come, we've got more improvements to make," he added. "We exist to win, and I don't think we don't exist to win by default. We exist to win through pure performance and earning it and that's what we're working towards."

The win by default of course referring to the issues which have blighted George Russell's last two races, and possibly to McLaren's drop in form along with Max Verstappen's struggles.

"I think I went from a season in a car that I inherited that had no input to, to a car that I've had input to," he said, referring to that difficult debut season. "There's elements of the car that I'd asked for and the team listened and which has been great. Collaboration of many, many, many different elements all coming together.

"With a Formula 1 car it's very complex, it's not one thing that changes everything. It's a combination of many things, moving parts coming together and working together in synergy and I think we are finally, I think, in a place where we're working really, really well as a team collectively."

The Briton was keen to praise the turnaround this year, particularly in terms of innovation, while singling out team boss Fred Vasseur, with whom he worked at ART Grand Prix in 2006 on his way to securing the GP2 title at the first attempt.

"When you're in a scenario where you know what's needed to improve and you shout it from the top of the mountain and it doesn't get done necessarily because it can't be done immediately or it takes months to develop or it can't happen until the next year because of the regulations or whatever it may be, it's like banging your head against the wall and it's tough," Hamilton explained.

"For example, last year, one of the things I was like, 'where is our innovation?' Ferrari should be the innovators, they should be the ones that all the teams are trying to copy. This year you see us arrive with innovating things that other people have followed and there is a lot more innovation coming, which is really exciting.

"I think probably the fact that I'm now starting to see some of those things happen and Fred has really been great with working with me and helping make certain changes that I've wanted and that just kind of releases you to get up and do what you do best."