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Lewis Hamilton says Nico Rosberg's early 2016 title lead is 'big deal'

Hamilton not taking Rosberg's early 36-point lead lightly as he targets a first "clean" race weekend of 2016 at the Russian GP

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Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton is happy to have more competition from Red Bull and Ferrari this season.

Lewis Hamilton insists Nico Rosberg's early 36-point title lead is a "big deal" but says he is up to the challenge as he targets his first "clean weekend" of 2016 in Russia.

Hamilton's attempts to become a four-time champion have been dogged by problems in the opening three rounds. A combination of poor starts, collisions and reliability problems have left him closer to the Ferrari and Red Bull drivers in the standings than Rosberg, his Mercedes team-mate.

Meanwhile, Rosberg is yet to be beaten on race day in 2016 and is on a run of six straight victories stretching back to last November.

But, as part of a record-breaking 21-race season, 18 rounds still remain with 450 points still up for grabs.

Asked if 36 points - the equivalent of a race victory and fourth-place finish - was therefore not yet a big deal in title terms, Hamilton replied: "I don't look at it lightly and I don't look at it like it's not a big deal, it's a big deal.

"It's 36 points, it's a lot of points, a race and a bit, and I don't take it for granted that it is a big step."

However, while aware that he has significant early ground to make up, Hamilton points out he twice overhauled similar deficits to Rosberg en-route to winning the title in 2014 - the second time when there were only seven races of that season left.

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"I know I've got work to do," he added. "I don't look at it and I think 'ah, it's nothing' but on the flip side, in a shorter period of time I've come from 29 [points behind].

Rosberg: Lewis will fight back

"There are 18 races, it is an average of two points a race [to make up], so it's not impossible."

Hamilton downplayed a suggestion that overhauling an in-form Rosberg could prove his greatest career challenge - "it's one of them, but I've been racing 23 years and there's been a lot of challenges, from the get-go," he said - but is aware his season requires an upturn.

Despite the advantage of pole position at the first two rounds, Hamilton has yet to run higher than sixth at the end of an opening lap in 2016. His problems were compounded in Bahrain and China, where he started last after an engine change, by first-corner collisions with other drivers.

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Natalie Pinkham is joined by former McLaren mechanic Marc Priestley and former Williams Senior Operations Engineer Dominic Harlow to look ahead to Russia

"I had the best start of the whole grid in the last race. We have been working on that issue and obviously I had a good start [in China]," Hamilton said.

When is the Russian GP on Sky?

"It's just the last two races I've been driving with a loss of performance of nearly a second in each race.

"But I'm hoping for a clean weekend and, by a good start, hopefully move on from there.

"I've still had two poles, and I didn't get to qualify in the last race, so hopefully we have another chance this weekend."

Watch the whole Russian GP weekend - LIVE ONLY on Sky Sports F1. The race begins at 1pm on Sunday, with build-up from 11.30am. Or watch the race without a contract for £6.99 on NOW TV.  

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