Downbeat Hamilton plays down Mercedes rift

Lewis Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton has played down talk of a rift with Mercedes, insisting he simply has "stuff" on his mind.

The 2008 world champion was notably downbeat after the Canadian grand prix, where he finished on the podium, two places ahead of his on-form teammate, Monaco winner Nico Rosberg.

But during the Montreal race, Hamilton snapped at his race engineer whilst receiving info about the wear of the tyres.

"Please just let me drive, man," the Briton snapped.

Hamilton, however, said his reaction does not indicate tension within the team, but simply the tension of the moment as he raced to the chequered flag.

"Being hunted down by Fernando Alonso is like being chased by a bull and so I just didn't need anyone in my ear when I was already at the maximum I could go at," he said.

Hamilton hinted that the main issue on his mind is his battle for superiority at Mercedes, in the recent wake of Rosberg's hat-trick of poles and Monaco win.

"I don't settle for anything but the best and wins; I still haven't got a win, Nico has won a race, so I need to get a win," he said.

"What I'm projecting is not disappointment, I've just got stuff on my mind."

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