Hamilton insists he’s not cracking up despite bizarre off-track antics

A POLICE escort fast-tracked Lewis Hamilton out of the Hungaroring, a blue-lights privilege he recorded for his social media devotees with the accompanying lyrics: ‘Move b **** , get out the way.’ The weird and wonderful workings of the quadruple world champion’s mind were being discussed inside the gates behind which he will try to extend his 17-point lead over Sebastian Vettel in tomorrow’s Hungarian Grand Prix. The first question: is the pressure getting into Hamilton’s head? It is being asked because he accused Ferrari of playing dirty after Silverstone. He then acted up after a technical glitch wrecked his qualifying last week in Germany. He followed those theatrics by citing Nelson Mandela in an Instagram rebuke to his detractors before bemoaning Sky’s supposed lack of reverence during his rain-inspired victory. The second question: does he need the spark of controversy to thrive on track? ‘The psychological game is the hardest thing,’ admitted Hamilton (below). ‘I wake up with insecurities. You don’t see me away from the track and that is the most demanding thing — keeping your mind in the game from March to November. The demands on the drivers are higher than ever. The pressure is greater than ever. That is not something I am fazed by, but excited by. I’ve always felt like I’m at my best when I’m under pressure, so I welcome it.’ Hamilton, at 33, possesses the same impetuous, fluctuating temperament he always did as a young driver but now has social media to parade his thoughts in a way he couldn’t before. He does not seek storms, or require them as a competitive spark, but he cannot avoid them. Ever contradictory, he withdrew his comments about Ferrari and took down his post about Sky’s coverage, as well he might, given that Martin Brundle compared his mastery to Ayrton Senna — Hamilton’s all-time hero. Given to paranoia, yes. Prone to brooding, yes. But Hamilton is proving that whatever bonfires he lights away from the track, he is reliably quick on it, in the one environment where he is entirely comfortable. Vettel, in contrast, has played it cool away from the asphalt but has made four bad mistakes on it — most recently hitting the barriers in Germany — to condemn him to second in the standings. Yesterday in practice, however, he and his Ferrari were quickest on a slow track, where Mercedes are not expected to be dominant. Ferrari will be desperate to win as a tribute to their chairman Sergio Marchionne, who sadly died on Wednesday, aged 66.