"I feel like I've been under pressure all my life," says Brit. "More often than not I feel comfortable in that scenario."
Wednesday 13 July 2016 15:45, UK
Lewis Hamilton has welcomed the pressure that surrounds his home race and says he performs at his best when faced with adversity.
More than 100,000 fans will be roaring on the world champion at the British GP, with Hamilton starting on pole despite having his first Q3 time deleted for exceeding the track limits.
That meant he had to deliver on his final flying lap, something Hamilton did in flying colours - out-qualifying team-mate Nico Rosberg by 0.3s. A high-pressure cauldron, then, is where the Mercedes driver feels most at home.
"Imagine the most pressure you can possibly be under," Hamilton said. "I quite like it, for some reason. I feel like I've been under pressure all my life. More often than not I feel comfortable in that scenario.
"When I'm having an argument with someone I feel less comfortable because I don't like confrontation. In a car I think it's to do with confidence, in a car I have belief in my ability.
"I do enjoy it. I often do things the harder way - I don't know why."
His qualifying display has put Hamilton in the ideal position to match Nigel Mansell's tally of four wins at the British GP, while it is the sixth time he has led a Mercedes one-two on the grid this season.
With talk of final warnings, yellow cards and even a suspension hanging over himself and Rosberg, their already strained relationship has been stretched to the limit. But the Brit says fighting in adversity, and for titles, is nothing new for the pair.
"We're here to do a job, it's our career, it's our future," he added. "It's not something we're trying to force. When we're at home, it's very easy.
Hamilton delivers 'mental blow'
"Not too long ago I was swimming in the pool downstairs and Nico came down and we had a chat. It was just normal, there was no racing, there was no agenda, it was just a chat and then when we're racing, it's fierce competition.
"That's how it's been since we were 13 years old."
