Hamilton: third last year

Last year at Silverstone, I found the support was just immense and definitely made the weekend a lot easier to get through. There's just something about racing in your home country that definitely affects you.

Lewis Hamilton
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Lewis Hamilton insists he is not feeling the pressure ahead of this weekend's British Grand Prix.

A record-breaking 240,000 sell-out crowd is expected over the three days, including a 90,000 crowd on Sunday, with the majority hoping to cheer on a British winner.

Hamilton is adamant that the weight of expectation is not affecting his preparation for the biggest weekend of his season.

"I'm very, very relaxed," said the 23-year-old. "It's very important you don't worry about things, so you try to keep your mind very clear.

"I might talk to my brother or watch some comedy, whatever it takes to take my mind off the actual race.

"If you think about the race you think about the first corner, you think about the start, the possibilities of people crashing in to you - all these different things.

"It's better you don't think about that and just go out there. I know how to drive, and you've got to hope for the best."

Advantage

In fact Hamilton sees the hordes of home support working to his advantage.

"Being at your home grand prix does give an extra boost to your confidence because you know you're getting more support, and it seems to make you perform better," said the McLaren driver.

"Last year at Silverstone, I found the support was just immense and definitely made the weekend a lot easier to get through.

"There's just something about racing in your home country that definitely affects you.

"You can't really say what it is, but there's something about the familiarity of your surroundings and the constant support of the crowd that gives you a boost throughout the whole weekend.

"It's not something you experience anywhere else, but it does make you that bit more determined to succeed."

After winning in Monaco, Hamilton is eager to conquer Silverstone, a circuit he describes as "a British phenomenon", and complete a personal hat-trick after his season-opening triumph in Australia.

"Winning your home race is something that every driver wants to achieve," added Hamilton, 10 points adrift of Ferrari's Felipe Massa in the current drivers' championship.

Big Four

"People talk of winning the 'big four' - Silverstone, Monaco, Monza and Spa, but it's more straightforward for me.

"I want to win the first race of the season; I want to win Monte Carlo - both of which I did for the first time this year - and I want to win my home grand prix.

"Those are my goals and I'm ready for the challenge at Silverstone this weekend.

"We just need to get a really good strong points finish. If we can beat the Ferraris and win on home turf it will be such a blow to everyone else."