Defending world champion Lewis Hamilton was philosophical on Saturday after qualifying on the back row of the grid for Sunday's British Grand Prix.

A year earlier, in 2008, the Briton won the race in torrential rain in thrilling fashion on his way to becoming the youngest champion in Formula One history.

But this time he was left down in 19th place on the grid and condemned to start from the last row alongside his friend German Adrian Sutil of Force India, whose crash in Q1 prevented Hamilton attempting a last-gasp fastest lap.

"I don't think I would have done anything special after all that," he shrugged. "I lost quite a bit of time in the first sector anyway.

"As racing drivers and people we all have some good years and some bad. I've had a run of four good years and I have finally come to a year that is pretty disastrous to say the least.

"We continue to push and work as a team to try and improve things and there will be a better day. It's just a long, long struggle for us at the moment. Hopefully we'll get back there one day.

"I'm devoting all my time to help the team move in the right direction and learn from mistakes. I'm not an engineer or an aerodynamicist, but I'm always asking them questions trying to get them thinking and it's the same for me.

"It's tough in the sport right now and I can only hope I'm racing next year because I want a shot at winning the world title again next year."AFP