Lewis Hamilton feels British GP will be overshadowed by Wimbledon and Cricket World Cup finals

Lewis Hamilton fears that his bid to win a record sixth British Grand Prix this weekend will be overshadowed by Wimbledon and the Cricket World Cup.

The 34-year-old will surpass Jim Clark and Alain Prost's five wins in the race with victory at Silverstone on Sunday.

But the race at the Northamptonshire circuit will begin at 2:10pm - just after the start of the men's singles final at Wimbledon and midway through the final at Lord's, where England may be attempting to win a first ever Cricket World Cup.

'I don't understand why the organisers put the race on the same day as all these big events,' said Hamilton. 

'This is such a special weekend it needs the focus of the whole country, but people will be switching between channels on Sunday not knowing what to watch. Me and the other British drivers just come here to raise the flag and do the country proud.' 

Asked what setting a new record would mean to him, Hamilton said: 'I'm not really one for records so if it doesn't happen this weekend it's no biggie for me because I'm going to try and be here for a little bit longer.

'Just the fact that (a sixth win) is a possibility is unreal for me and, ultimately, I just want to put that out of my mind and focus on the job at hand because it's not going to be an easy weekend.' 

Hamilton leads the championship by 31 points from Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas after winning six of the nine races this season.

But the five-time world champion is taking nothing for granted this weekend, having lost out to Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel here last year and seen his run of four straight victories come to an end in Austria a fortnight ago when Red Bull's Max Verstappen claimed top spot on the podium.

'We don't approach weekends with a negative,' said Hamilton. 'But we're aware the Ferraris and Red Bulls have taken a step forward. The pace they had at the last race was great, so I expect this weekend to be closer. Last year the Ferraris were super-fast here, as were the Red Bulls, so it's definitely not going to be an easy weekend.

'I've had some spectacular races here but we're here to improve this weekend as a team. The last one was difficult for us so I think it will be close.' 

Silverstone's owners, the British Racing Drivers' Club, and F1's owners, Liberty Media, signed a new five-year deal on Wednesday for the circuit to continue hosting the race.

Hamilton welcomed the announcement, but said he didn't know if he would still be in the sport in 2024.

'The British Grand Prix is the most special of the year,' he said. 'The sheer magnitude of it and how many people come here - it's a special weekend.

'There's excitement and adrenaline. My whole family is coming this weekend so it's that one weekend where it's the most special because your closest support surrounds you.

'It (2024) feels like a long way away so who knows if I will still be here then. If I'm not, if I stop racing, then I won't be here in any other capacity.'

Source: Daily Mail

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