• British Grand Prix

Hamilton wary of Red Bull threat at Silverstone

Lewis Hamilton is in confident mood ahead of Silverstone © Getty Images

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Lewis Hamilton is hoping upgrades to his McLaren for the British Grand Prix will allow him to "demolish the field", but admitted he is still wary of the challenge posed by Red Bull.

McLaren will bring its version of the blown diffuser to British Grand Prix, aimed at improving the under-floor aerodynamics of the car at high speed. If it works it will be a big advantage through Silverstone's sweeping corners and Hamilton is hoping it will be enough to allow him to challenge for victory in front of his home fans.

"Every year we go there it's a mega experience with the support you have," Hamilton told PA Sport. "I really just hope it will be an incredible experience again, that the upgrades we have work, and we're able to demolish the field. Our car is so good. It's just down to me and Jenson [Button] doing a solid job, without one or the other having problems. But it's going to be tough. We can't go into it thinking we're the favourites because the Red Bull, as it stands, is definitely the fastest car."

When asked about his rivalry with team-mate and compatriot Jenson Button, Hamilton said the competition would be fierce.

"I'm sure Jenson does want to win, but it doesn't mean he wants it more than me, so we'll have to wait and see," he said. "Although I've won the grand prix before, I'd love to win it again, but if he does a better job than me, so be it, but he has to do a better job than me. We'll race fairly, and the fastest guy will win, hopefully a one-two, which would be special, real special."

Last year Hamilton finished the British Grand Prix 16th as McLaren hit a mid-season slump, but still put on a show for the fans by performing donuts at Copse and Stowe on his way back to the pits. He said he would have to run it past his team before doing something similar this year.

"I need to speak to my engineers to find out what gearbox I'm on, the same with the engine," Hamilton said. "If the gearbox finishes the race and it's the last one, then I'll have a go. It puts on a show. But the amount of fans that came up to me after that, saying it made their weekend seeing the donuts, was amazing. It was pretty awesome because they didn't remember the fact we sucked that weekend. So I just hope I can give them something different to remember this time."

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