This is going to be a season of trouble for Lewis Hamilton - but if he plays it right, he could come out stronger.
The world champion’s world has come tumbling down this year, with new regulations putting McLaren down the order, trusted mentor Ron Dennis stepping away when he needed him most - and an uncharacteristic mistake in qualifying last weekend ruining his chances when the unique Monaco circuit gave him a rare opportunity to shine.
That race gave him a serious sign of how tough it would be to get back to the front and with his chance gone from Monaco, Hamilton is likely to be facing a few more tough moments unless McLaren can quickly get to grips with the developments they need to put him back in the mix.
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But it will be how he deals with the situation that could make or break him, and down the line his actions in the crucial upcoming mid-season races could turn a season to forget into one that should be remembered.
The difference this time, compared to the past, is that the media eyes are watching his every move. In the lower formulae he could get on with racing through the tough times but in Formula One he is a superstar and has to go into in-depth analysis of every moment, re-living his tough experiences time and time again.
His reaction, so far, has been to curl up like a frightened hedgehog, to pull his head into his shell like a tortoise…and to occasionally snap like an irritated terrier if anyone tries to poke at him. His smile, whenever it appears, is forced and clearly ends in a poorly masked frown.
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