Hamilton ‘excited’ by pressure as he takes on the psychological battle

By Lewis Hamilton is relishing the psychological warfare of his Formula One championship battle with Sebastian Vettel.

Hamilton is 17 points clear of his rival ahead of the sport’s final round before the summer break in Hungary tomorrow.

To date, the Englishman, 33, holds the mental edge over Vettel following the Ferrari driver’s fourth, and biggest, mistake of the year, when he crashed out when leading in Germany last Sunday.

Hamilton’s remarkable victory in Vettel’s back yard moved him to the summit of the standings to mark the fifth change of championship leader this season.

For the first time in the hybrid era, Ferrari, boast the strongest package. That was again on show in practice as Vettel topped the time sheets with Hamilton only a distant fifth.

By his own admission, the Briton, pictured, has not been at his very best this year, but it is his lack of mistakes, and flashes of brilliance, that ensure he remains the favourite to clinch a fifth world crown.

“The psychological game in sport is the hardest thing,” Hamilton said. “You don’t see me away from the track. I wake up with insecurities. “The most demanding thing is keeping your mind in the game from the first race in March right through to the November, and arriving at every race 100 per cent. “I haven’t hit the nail on the head at every weekend this year, but the pressures are huge, and the demand on myself and Sebastian is higher than ever.

“It has swung more in Ferrari’s direction so I am having to over-deliver. The pressure to extract every ounce is greater than ever if I want to be number one at the end.

“That is not something I am fazed by, but something that excites me. I have always felt that I have been at my best under pressure. I welcome it.”

Vettel, but for his mistakes, should be leading this cham- pionship. Last weekend, with Hamilton catching him in the slippery conditions, Vettel threw away a certain 25 points.

“It is closer than last year, so the smallest mistakes are even more costly,” Hamilton added. “But I take pride in being a perfectionist and not making mistakes.

“Nobody is perfect, but I work to position myself mentally and physically so I am the last to crack.”