The 2008 world champion Lewis Hamilton (4/1 2012 Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship) believes McLaren have made enough improvements on last year’s car to challenge Red Bull’s dominance in 2012.

Although both Hamilton and team-mate Jenson Button each won three races on 2011, neither managed to challenge world champion Sebastian Vettel and were often hampered by problems with the team’s vehicle.

However, the 26-year-old believes that this year will be a different story and that he and Button will be serious contenders thanks to the improvements made by the McLaren mechanics (McLaren 6/4 Constructors’ Championship).

“Certainly. It will be up to us to be able to surpass it,” Hamilton said. “From what I’ve seen, however, the new McLaren seems a lot better than last year’s.”

Vettel built his success last year on a series of phenomenal early season results and it soon became apparent that he and team-mate Mark Webber had the best cars in the competition.

McLaren have gone all out over the winter to emulate Red Bull’s success and have made a number of alterations to their vehicle. Hamilton feels this could make the difference and believes a quick start to the championship could help him reclaim the world title.

“During the winter you always dream of arriving at the start of the season with a car that goes quick immediately,” he said.

“This hasn’t happened in the last two seasons. I want it to happen this year. If we start well, we’ll stay at the top more easily.”