Conquering pressure

If Hamilton’s sensational performance in the British Grand Prix is a significant phase in his fledgling Formula One career then equally important are the events that unfolded in the weeks preceding the race, which help us appreciate the McLaren driver better, writes G. Raghunath.

Former British Grand Prix driver and now a Formula One commentator, Martin Brundle’s words seemed to ring ominously true as the wheels of Lewis Hamilton’s challenge came apart in Montreal (Canadian Grand Prix) and Magny-Cours (French Grand Prix). Last year, watching Hamilton make a tremendous start to his Formula One career, Brundle remarked: “It’s going to be a long haul for Lewis and there are a number of things he has to face — his first big shunt, for instance, and all the travel, which can be pretty wearying.” And he wondered how the young Brit would handle them.

This year, after enduring the two most horrific weekends of his 26-race career, Hamilton, no doubt, displayed his tenacity at Silverstone as he drove, by his own admission, the greatest Grand Prix of his career. But then, not many expected the 23-year-old McLaren-Mercedes driver to turn the British GP on its head, for, in those incommodious weeks leading up to the British Grand Prix, Hamilton’s lifestyle and commitment to racing had provoked a lot of scepticism among his fans and countrymen.

If Hamilton’s sensational

Ramming his car into Kimi Raikkonen’s Ferrari, waiting in front of the red light at the end of the pit lane in Montreal, was no doubt embarrassing. (He was demoted 10 places on the starting grid for the next race, the French Grand Prix.) And even more juvenile was the drive-through penalty Hamilton earned in Magny-Cours — he was penalised for cutting a corner after racing Sebastian Vettel of STR. These uncharacteristic blunders by Hamilton, who drew a blank in both the races, had the British media sniping at him.

Despite these setbacks, Hamilton would still make a spate of publicity appearances he had committed to; he would challenge a Learjet in his McLaren as part of a promotional event at the Farnborough Air Show and he would be one of the crew in a yacht backed by Hugo Boss, McLaren’s sponsor, at a race off the Isle of Wight (it proved to be a misadventure for Hamilton as his yacht collided with another competitor) — all of which would fuel the suspicion that the talented youngster, who was chiefly responsible for injecting a lot of pizzazz to the sport last season, was hurtling down the wrong route.

Then came Hamilton’s superb drive at Silverstone, in treacherous conditions — it couldn’t have come at a more appropriate time. Driving in the rain, through puddles of water, called for extraordinary skill and courage. And at times, Hamilton had to flip open his visor to clear the fogging that obstructed his vision. But he never put a wheel wrong as he raced to the chequered flag, leading the second-placed Nick Heidfeld of BMW Sauber by more than a minute. What more, he lapped all but two of the finishers. Could there have been a better way of silencing his critics?

“I’ve had some troubles in the last few weeks and it’s been really tough,” Hamilton said after the race.

Father Anthony Hamilton, who also manages his son, was a completely relieved man. “That was just great for the British public, great for Silverstone and great for Formula One, but I also think it’s great for all those little kids looking up to Lewis thinking, ‘I want to be like you’. I hope we’ve launched a lot of careers. I hope Lewis has inspired young kids to keep on the straight and narrow,” he said while speaking to reporters after the race.

If Silverstone was all about Hamilton’s steely resolve, his showing at Hockenheim (German Grand Prix) typified the McLaren driver’s raw aggression. Despite a serious lapse by the Woking-based team, which decided not to call Hamilton in for his second pit stop after the safety car was deployed following Timo Glock’s mishap on the 36th lap — the mistake cost Hamilton the lead when he had to pit for fuelling nine laps later — the British driver displayed sublime skills to overhaul the Ferrari driver, Felipe Massa.

Though the Brazilian came up with a riposte, a steadfast Hamilton ruthlessly bent back his challenge. He then passed Renault’s rookie driver Nelsinho Piquet Jr., son of former world champion Nelson Piquet, with a spectacular manoeuvre to get into the lead and from there on drove majestically to victory.

Incidentally, Piquet Jr. had beaten Hamilton to the GP2 title in 2006. All the talk of Hamilton groaning under the weight of pressure following his mistakes in Canada and France proved to be hogwash. With his back-to-back victories in Silverstone and Hockenheim, Hamilton demonstrated that one can conquer pressure by winning under pressure. After all, thriving in tough conditions comes easily to him. Even during his karting days, as a bubbly 12-year-old, Hamilton simply enjoyed fighting from the back of the grid, speeding through the field to outstrip the front runners.

With the current season just past the halfway stage, there’s still a lot of work to be done for Hamilton as he pushes for his maiden Formula One crown. He is just four points ahead of Felipe Massa, who is second in the drivers’ standings, and seven more than third-placed Kimi Raikkonen, the defending champion. The battle for the crown, just like last year, is likely to go to the wire. “I am sure it will be a lot like last year, when it was just as close between the top three and there was one point separating us at the end,” said Hamilton. “I hope it’s not but I can only assume it will be at the last race again.”

The momentum, though, seems to be with Hamilton. If he keeps it up, there’s no reason why he won’t wear the F1 crown this time.