After trailing home in tenth place in the French Grand Prix at Magny-Cours, Lewis Hamilton has once again failed to make the podium and the Motor racing betting world notes with dismay that he has now been out of the points for three consecutive races. Starting in tenth place on the grid having been penalised for shunting Riakkonen in Canada, Hamilton was docked another ten points in France for obtaining advantage while overtaking. Denying the charge, Hamilton asserts that he will not be put off his pursuit of the title although he now trails Felipe Masse by ten points in the driver’s standings.

This is not an insurmountable deficit, with ten races still to go, but one that will be only made up by Hamilton stepping back and reflecting on his approach to the next two or three races. Certainly there are tracks coming up that are more suited to the McLaren but Silverstone, where the next race will be held on July 6, is not one of them and Hamilton cannot rely on this alone. He needs to calm things down a bit and refocus on his skill and patience.

Despite Hamilton’s claims of innocence, questions are being asked about his capacity to withstand the pressure he is under to live up to. There are undoubtedly extravagant expectations that have been placed upon him by people who should, perhaps, know better. Formula 1 followers who would have used their French Grand Prix free bets this weekend know that this sport is a massively challenging one and pure skill is not enough to win the battle for driver supremacy. Nerve amidst calm is a condition of mind which can only be nurtured in the fires of experience and Hamilton must be allowed to mature on the track in his own time and not in that of the media.