Hamilton determined to bask in the spotlight for the right reasons

LEWIS Hamilton is determined to bask in the spotlight for the right reasons this weekend after becoming fed up of being an easy target.

Not for the first time in his Formula One career, and certainly not for the first time this year, Hamilton has been on the receiving end of fierce criticism in the wake of his latest incident.

Overall, Hamilton has been involved in six accidents in grands prix this season, two of which have led to him failing to finish races, the others robbing him of strong finishing positions.

In the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa 11 days ago, Hamilton’s failure to spot Sauber’s Kamui Kobayashi as he moved across to take his racing line led to a collision that concluded with him smashing into a barrier.

With reigning champion Sebastian Vettel going on to win the race, Hamilton now trails the German by 113 points ahead of the Italian Grand Prix, adding to his misery of a year predominantly to forget.

“It’s just one of those years. Everyone goes through tough times and I’m going through it,” said Hamilton.

“For whatever reason people always remember the bad times over the good times, so I’m here to try and put things right and have a much better weekend.”

For Hamilton, his intention is clear as the championship is now no longer his priority, adding: “I’m not really focusing on that.

“I’m trying to get back to having some good results so I can stop negative stories being written about me.

“I don’t read them personally. I just hear there are pretty bad stories that have been written, so I am thinking it would be good to give you guys (the media) something good to write about me.”

Countering comments it was his aggressive driving that again proved his undoing in Belgium, he said: “It was just a mistake.

Hamilton has revealed he may have momentarily been knocked out in the wake of his crash into the barrier.

From the on-board footage, it certainly appeared as if that was the case as the Briton did not move for a few seconds before finally removing his steering wheel.

“I don’t really remember much from hitting the wall,” said Hamilton.

“It’s possible I was out for a couple of seconds, I’m not really sure.

Meanwhile Fernando Alonso feels Ferrari will have to do “everything perfect” if he is to again savour the thrill of winning the Italian Grand Prix.

Alonso is a two-time victor at Monza, initially in 2007 during his ill-fated season with McLaren, and again last year with Ferrari, a highlight of his career.

The two triumphs could not be in greater contrast as he said: “They were very different.In 2007 it was like winning a normal race at another circuit. The reaction from the tifosi (Ferrari fans) was not the same. Last year there were much more emotions, and not just the race, but the whole weekend.

“When you drive for Ferrari there is the support from the fans, and a lot of activities throughout the week for our team.

“Then when you win and you see the start-finish line full of the tifosi on the race track who are so happy that a red car won the race, an Italian car won the Italian Grand Prix once more, it’s a very special feeling.”