Hamilton 'will lose horribly' in media battle.

Lewis Hamilton has been warned to stop 'waging a war with the media' by former F1 driver turned ITV-F1 pundit Martin Brundle, who insists the young McLaren-Mercedes ace 'will lose horribly' should the stand-off continue.

Hamilton has come in for much media criticism in 2008 for his off-track activities [see separate story - click here], with a pertinent example coming last Sunday when the News of the World quoted Miss World contestant Vivian Burkhardt as having slated the Stevenage-born star for dumping her - just two days after being seen with her at the Cannes Film Festival - in favour of Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger.

Indeed, in the wake of his disastrous performance in the French Grand Prix at Magny-Cours last time out, Hamilton initially refused to speak to the waiting press, prompting Brundle - himself a former McLaren driver - to write in his regular Sunday Times column that his countryman is 'misguided' in 'waging a war with the media'.

"That's a battle he will lose horribly," the 49-year old stressed. "[The press] will work with you, but it's reciprocal, and they are better friends than enemies.

"An angry driver will always drive like Lewis did in Magny-Cours, over-aggressively bouncing off the kerbs and sliding around grabbing half-chances to overtake.

"Mega-stardom needs to be put on hold for now, with total focus on this critical and busy mid-season phase."

Hamilton himself, for his part, has acknowledged that he is concerned about his deteriorating relationship with the press, and the consequent negative reports that are going to print - a far cry from the media love-in he enjoyed over the course of his sensational maiden campaign in the top flight last year.

"Whatever has been said in the papers, I just hope that they aren't throwing vegetables at me because of what's happened in the last few races," the 23-year old told the Sunday Times, when asked about what kind of welcome he believes he will receive when he takes to the track for his home grand prix at Silverstone this coming weekend.

"For sure they're going to be disappointed about the last couple of races, just as the team are, but there's no need to be angry, and I'm sure some of the things that are said in the papers do make them angry.

"I'm on form; I'm not driving into walls. The reason I'm so quick is because I'm pushing my car, and the car is great. The team's doing a good job, and I think I'm extracting a lot from it. That's all I can do."