British media reports Lewis Hamilton as having lost confidence following Singapore 'blip'.

Yesterday it was Jenson Button retiring today it is the Briton's former McLaren teammate at the centre of British media attention.

Following a disappointing weekend in Singapore, which saw Lewis Hamilton post his first DNF since Belgium last year, when he suffered accident damage after a clash with his teammate, most are confident that it will be business as usual in Japan where the Briton and his car should enjoy similar dominance to that witnessed in Italy.

However, the British media has the Mercedes driver feeling far from confident.

"I don't have any confidence," he is quoted as saying. "I don't have any information to give me that confidence.

"I'm hoping it's a one-off but it was a strange weekend to say the least," he adds. "Our car has not got slower. I told my engineers I would like some information about what they think it was but there's not a lot of time before the next race."

However, it's not all doom and gloom.

"Before my problem with power loss, I was absolutely sure that I would have undercut at least two of the cars ahead of me," the Independent quotes him as saying. "In my mind, I thought I might have the chance to win.

"Personally, I'm very chilled about last weekend," he insists. "I was there to do a job, and I'm fully aware that you can't win them all. Shit happens. I'm very fortunate with the success we've had, and pleased with the job I did. I out-qualified my team-mate and was ahead of him in the race before the car broke. That's the first time that's happened in a long time, and I didn't lose a huge amount of points. I take the glass half-full view. It could have been a lot worse."

Indeed, at a time when some conspiracy theorists ponder whether the downturn in form is anything to do with the tyre pressure issue in Italy, the Guardian cleverly adds another suggestion to the media mix, the possibility of Mercedes being "given inferior tyres".

"I don't believe so," says Hamilton. "Why should I think that? I've never heard of that in Formula One. Has it happened before? I've never seen it. I don't think so."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Bazrat, 27/09/2015 19:58 (moderated by an Adminstrator, 27/09/2015 20:05)

"This comment was removed by an administrator as it was judged to have broken the site's posting rules and etiquette."

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2. Posted by WiseowlofF1, 25/09/2015 15:58

"Response to Spindoctor; do let's get real my friend, nobody in the history of the sport has had a more privileged, silver spoon fed route to F1. Michael Schumacher's manager had to pay Eddie Jordan £80000 just to get a test. To enlighten you, he was sponsored by McLaren since he was 14. He came through the ranks parallel with the likes of robert Kubica and others who had to find thier own independent sponsors and rely on personal merit. As for kind of funny; the realiity is Lewis is often inconsistent and simply lacks maturity. Look how he knocked the sign over in parc ferme at Monaco, remember Spa 3 years ago when he posted telemetry data on Twitter because they gave Button the new wing. Appears clear to me some growing up to be done around here. Guys we all have our favourites but let's ditch the rose coloured specs please."

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3. Posted by wmcot54, 24/09/2015 4:09 (moderated by an Adminstrator, 27/09/2015 20:05)

"Lewis is kind of "funny." In a race, he'll complain about how badly his tires are going off and then set a fastest lap. Now he lacks "confidence" so he'll probably win in Suzuka. It seems to be a strange way to self-motivate but it seems to work so what do I know???"

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4. Posted by Spindoctor, 23/09/2015 11:53 (moderated by an Adminstrator, 27/09/2015 20:05)

"@wiseowlofF1 - where did that bit about "sulks" come from, not to mention the rest of your diatribe? If we're playing the "through the ranks" card (whatever that means these days) the "young Max" or indeed "young Nico", or even "young Sainz" have had a much easier path than Lewis.

In these reported comments, and in post-race interviews he seemed remarkably upbeat for a driver whose car has gone from hero to zero in one race weekend!

Typical UK press mis-reporting & scandal-mongering. They should stick to Dave Cameron and piggate!"

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5. Posted by klmn, 23/09/2015 10:04

"Give the guy a break...everybody want to talk nonsense with him ..
"

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6. Posted by WiseowlofF1, 23/09/2015 9:43

"I'm bored hearing about Lewis's sulks; it's pathetic, if he had had to come through the ranks like Schumacher and others, he wouldn't have had the back bone to get through. He's not a true sportsman just a fast driver, it's losing a statesman and a real British ambassador for the sport in Jenson Button we should be lamenting. When the day comes young Max get's a front running car and maybe even Alonso too - I don't like him but he deserves better - My guess is Lewis will leave F1 not being able to cope having things all his own way."

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Hamilton suffering a crisis of faith?

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