Hamilton told to let his driving do the talking

Hamilton goes into the ninth round of the world championship experiencing the kind of prickly relationship with the media and motor-racing supporters that Nigel Mansell sometimes had to deal with.

In particular, Hamilton has hit out at criticism of his apparent pursuit of a celebrity lifestyle and of his driving in Canada, where he rammed the stationary Ferrari of world champion Kimi Raikkonen at the end of the pit lane, and in France, where he was penalised for cutting a chicane.

Hill recalled how Mansell let his fierce and committed driving style doing his talking, particularly in 1986 and '87 when he won back-to-back British Grands Prix with brilliant drives that thrilled the crowds.

Hill said: "Nigel would get everyone wound up and pumped up, and suddenly he would get pumped up as well and then off he went.

"It had an effect. Everyone was cheering 'Nigel! Nigel!', and once he felt he had them on his side, that's when he delivered.

"Lewis has had a bit of a wobble. But that is to be expected in only his second season. It's a phase drivers seem to go through, it's part of the growing up process towards becoming world champion.

"I'm confident Lewis can pull himself through it, and he will emerge all the stronger."