Lewis Hamilton wrote off his hopes of winning a record eighth Formula One world championship this year after falling 50 points adrift of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc at Imola on Saturday.

"We're obviously not fighting for this championship," the Briton told Sky Sports television after finishing 14th in a Saturday sprint that set the starting grid for Sunday's Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

"But we're fighting to understand the car and improve and progress through the year," he added. "That's all we can hope for right now."