Hill: Call for calm

As for any advice, I would just say to him, focus on what you can control, and that is how you drive and how you do your job.

Damon Hill
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Former British racing legend Damon Hill has urged Lewis Hamilton to remain focused if he is to win the British Grand Prix, and potentially go on to become world champion.

Mistakes, penalties and a row with the media have engulfed the 23-year-old of late, leaving him 10 points adrift of Ferrari's Felipe Massa in the four-way fight for the title.

However, 1996 world champion Hill, himself a Silverstone winner in 1994, believes a home success will give Hamilton the perfect boost as he aims to put his bid for a first world title back on track on July 6.

"It would be an enormous boost for him to win the British Grand Prix," said Hill.

"There would be such a feel-good factor about a British driver winning his home race, and especially for Lewis who is trying to fight for the world championship.

"There has been a little bit of a wobble of late from Lewis, but I think it's to be expected.

"As for any advice, I would just say to him, focus on what you can control, and that is how you drive and how you do your job."

50-50

Hill also fears the future of the British Grand Prix could go down to the wire in negotiations with Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone.

Silverstone's contract to host the race expires at the end of the 2009 event, and not for the first time, Hill has admitted the odds on winning a new deal are "50-50".

Plans for a new £30million pit and paddock complex were recently approved by the local council, in the hope work will start towards the end of the year.

Hill, president of the British Racing Drivers' club who currently own Silverstone, said: "We're definitely making progress.

"We've the planning consent for our pit and paddock complex, but it is one step at a time.

"Typically, negotiations will be ongoing and I expect won't come to a conclusion until the final hour, whenever that is.

Donington alternative

"But if we're going to fulfil building requirements then ideally we have to get going on it before the end of this year.

"So at this moment it's situation normal."

Ecclestone recently stated he was in talks with Donington Park as a potential alternative, although that could be viewed as a tactic to get Silverstone to dig deeper.

"I would never discount any other option," said Hill.

"It's the nature of this free market that there's always another option to go to, and we have to compete.

"But a tremendous amount of work has gone into getting Silverstone teed up to become a leading centre for world motor sport.

"I think it's ideally placed to cater for Formula One, and for all motor sport."