Hamilton feels weight of a nation on his shoulders

After announcing himself last year to the world as the fastest rookie ever to drive a grand prix car, the 23-year-old from Hertfordshire is experiencing a harsh reality check.

His view from fifth place on the grid for this afternoon's Spanish Grand Prix is not the clear vista that he had grown accustomed to from the front row.

Hamilton admits that the path he lit last year, when he came within a point of becoming Britain's first world champion since Damon Hill in 1996, could become a burden if he was to allow it.

'There is a lot more pressure this year than last,' said Hamilton.

'Much of it coming from myself. But last year when I came here I was just having fun, just trying to do the job. Now I'm trying to carry my country on my shoulders.'

Hamilton's hopes of making inroads on championship leader Kimi Raikkonen, ahead of him by five points, receded when the 28-year-old Finn put his Ferrari on pole for the first time this season.

Dauntingly for Hamilton, for the past seven years the man who has claimed pole has won this race.

Hamilton came to Spain with much already on his mind after the disappointment of a flawed start in Bahrain three weeks ago, followed by a collision with his old team-mate, Fernando Alonso.

Yet he has been cautioned here by McLaren-Mercedes team principal Ron Dennis to refrain from being overly selfcritical.

Dennis said yesterday: 'Lewis is too hard on himself and I have told him that.

'There was a slight drop off of his performance at the last race when he made a small mistake. But Lewis has had a phenomenal time since he came into Formula One. He was a great racing driver last season and he will continue to be a great racing driver.'

Jenson Button will start from 13th place for Honda, with David Coulthard in 17th position with his Red Bull car.

But for impoverished Anthony Davidson in 21st, this could be his final grand prix — unless a financial white knight rides over