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McLaren are looking good for the Formula One title even if Ferrari prove too strong in Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton said.

"On the tracks with the long straights they always seem to have a slight advantage than we generally do, but I think it will balance out," McLaren's 23-year-old championship leader said.

"Here they will be strong like they were last year," added the Briton, who is six points clear of Ferrari's Felipe Massa with six races remaining.

"But we have made a step forward with our car and we should be able to challenge them this weekend. Last year we weren't in a position to do so."

Ferrari, champions last year after McLaren were stripped of all their points and fined $100 million for having the Italian team's technical data in their possession, are eight points ahead in the constructors' standings.

Ferrari won last year in Belgium, the longest circuit on the calendar, while McLaren triumphed in Italy and Japan before their rivals were again victorious in China and Brazil.

Singapore, scheduled as Formula One's first night race later this month, is new to the championship.

"I think in Monza they will probably be a lot quicker than they were last year, but still I think we will have the upper hand," said Hamilton.

"On street circuits, in Singapore they will probably be very quick like they were in Valencia, so maybe they will have the upper hand there. We will wait and see. Fuji and Shanghai, last year we were very strong there.

"I honestly feel we have the better package for the remaining races. They are going to be able to challenge us, but I feel that we will have the upper hand."

Hamilton was in far better spirits than a year ago, when he arrived at Spa not knowing whether he would be able to race on the Sunday.

McLaren had risked being thrown out of the championship over the spying controversy and Hamilton, leading the standings in his rookie season, had attended a hearing in Paris to help his team's case before travelling to Spa.

"We've moved on. It's a much better feeling being here, challenging for the world championship and not trying to stay in the championship," said the Englishman.

"Last year I was walking the track and I didn't know whether I'd be racing. This year we don't have any of those stresses, we're a strong team and we've got a real good atmosphere throughout.

"It's a big difference, it's nice."

Reuters