LEWIS Hamilton has vowed to raise his game in a bid to clinch the Formula One world title after seeing Kimi Raikkonen wreck his dream of a British Grand Prix victory.

Ferrari star Raikkonen drove a flawless race to clinch back-toback wins for the first time in two years.

As for championship leader Hamilton, he openly admitted to making mistakes en route to finishing third - nearly 40 seconds adrift of Raikkonen - and behind McLaren team-mate Fernando Alonso.

It was remarkable how the euphoria that swept round Silverstone like a tidal wave when Hamilton clinched pole yesterday subsided two thirds of the way into the 59-lap race when it became clear he would not win.

Prior to the start there was a sense of expectancy as airhorns blared, Union Jacks waved and a sell-out 85,000 crowd bathed in long-overdue summer sunshine.

But Raikkonen rained on the anticipated parade, leaving Hamilton on the podium for the ninth successive race, but not on the top step where he would have dreamed of standing during the night.

With refreshing honesty, Hamilton said: I made the wrong decision with set-up and it really caused me problems during the race.

Even in qualifying I didn't have the pace I should have had, but it was too late by then to change the car, so I've learned a good lesson.

But then at the first pit stop I made a mistake. I thought the lollipop lifted and I went.

"It was a mistake which cost me time.

But at the end of the day I've come away with a ninth podium; I'm the most consistent driver here.

"I have to be happy with that.'' Although c o n c e d i n g to having had a wicked season so far,'' with no complaints,'' the 22- year-old knows he can do better.

With his lead at the top 12 points to team-mate Fernando Alonso, and 18 over Raikkonen, Hamilton added: I need to step up my game, which I intend to do.

As a team we need to push, as always, but try to push even more if we can.

As for me as a driver, I'm still learning and I've still time to find in myself through experience.''

We're going to a few tracks I know, so it should really make the weekend a little bit easier, but it doesn't.

I've struggled to get the pace, so it's making sure the car is set up right, that we keep on moving forward with the car - and ideally beat the Ferraris.''

This was Raikkonen's third victory of the season, and 12th of his career, clinched by blistering speed when first Hamilton pitted and then Alonso, who had taken the lead after the first round of stops.

Hamilton made a fine start, but was never able to shake Raikkonen off his tail until pitting on lap 16 when he made his error with the lollipop man. Then reigning world champion Alonso failed to open a significant enough gap over the Finn ahead of the second series of stops.

Raikkonen put in a punishing six extra laps after Alonso had come in, so when he emerged from his own stop, the lead was such that the final 16 laps were what he described as easy.'' The 27-year-old has taken eight points off Hamilton in the last two races after winning the French Grand Prix last week, and he knows his title chances have significantly increased.

I have a good feeling, but we know every race can be completely different,'' assessed Raikkonen.

I'm not thinking we can repeat this all the time, but we have a good chance every weekend as long as everything works well. For sure, we would have liked to have been in a better position in the championship, but we've had difficult times.

At least we're now going in the right direction, and I feel we can have a strong end of the year.''

As for Alonso, he felt second place was the best he could hope for, but after comfortably beating Hamilton in his home race, the 25-year-old has possibly struck a significant psychological blow.

For the last four or five races I've been quick all weekend, and quite happy with the car,'' remarked Alonso.

I have the speed and confidence. Hopefully with more consistency and a better approach to the races with the team, then it will be better.''

Robert Kubica was fourth for BMW Sauber, with the second Ferrari of Felipe Massa fifth, that from the pit lane after stalling at the start, leaving the Brazilian 19 points behind Hamilton.

The remaining points places were taken by Nick Heidfeld in the second BMW and the Renaults of Heikki Kovalainen and Giancarlo Fisichella.

As for the other Britons, Jenson Button - who required painkillers for a back problem to get through the race - was 10th for Honda, Red Bull Racing's David Coulthard 11th, while Anthony Davidson retired after 35 laps in his Super Aguri.