Motorsport: Pressure on Hamilton as Rosberg rivalry hits fever pitch

Lewis Hamilton insists his rivalry with Nico Rosberg is a healthy one. Photo / AP

After dismal failures at Wimbledon and the World Cup, British eyes turned to Lewis Hamilton for a glimmer of consolation this weekend, even if the man himself cannot stop rubbing his own.

Drowsily sniffling his way through his media briefing, Hamilton has had to shake off the effects of hay fever before turning his attention to beating Nico Rosberg at the British Grand Prix. But it was not just the pollen count occupying Hamilton's attention. He cut a despondent figure as he trudged away from his parked Mercedes yesterdayafter it let him down again with half-an-hour of practice remaining.

The 29-year-old, who trails the German by as many points in the world championship, assured his fans he will be 100 per cent, even if he had to stop mid-sentence while a Mercedes aide passed a tablet and a glass of water.

"I get severe hay fever so I take a lot of stuff for it," Hamilton said. "When I was kid I had a severe allergy — I remember doing my GCSEs and sitting there with a big box of tissues, and while everyone was getting on with the exams I was blowing my nose all the way through."

Hamilton will face a much sterner test this weekend. On a circuit which he made his own in 2008, superbly winning by more than a minute in the rain, the Briton needs to wrest back the momentum from Rosberg.

He was almost given an enormous boost when stewards put the German under investigation for overtaking under red flags in morning practice, but Rosberg escaped punishment. Instead it was Hamilton who was dealt a blow when his Mercedes ground to a halt in the new Arena section. Despite the oil pressure problem, he ended the day as the fastest man, although not by much over Rosberg.

Not since this place was an RAF base in World War II has it been the site of such a battle between Great Britain and Germany. Hamilton is hoping the home support can play a decisive role in this latest skirmish.

"There is no time like the present for a momentum shift and this is the best place to do it," he said. "It is almost like sometimes for a sail boat to change direction, it needs a gust of wind, and I hope the British Grand Prix fans can do that for me."

It has not reached do or die territory — double points at the final race should ensure the championship will remain alive until the dying embers of the season — but whether Hamilton can rely on his genius alone for victory remains unanswered.

It's clear the pressure of the rivalry at Mercedes is taking its toll. Toto Wolff, the Mercedes boss, spoke of a worsening atmosphere in the team due to the intensity of the title fight. Hamilton seemed bewildered at such talk. "I don't know what he's getting at to be honest," Hamilton said. "Me and Nico work quite well together. We have two very good drivers who are very competitive."

In some ways, this is what potentially F1's greatest internecine conflict for years has been reduced to: a data war. The 120,000 fans who pack into the grandstands tonight won't mind. All that matters is they have someone British to celebrate.

"It is the most special grand prix," Hamilton said. "Andy Murray was fantastic, but you can't win them all. Same with the World Cup, the guys gave it their best shot.

"Like all the other years I have been here, you give it the best shot and even if you don't win you try to do the country proud. But I plan on winning."