Hamilton determined to bounce back to form in Formula One home race

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SILVERSTONE, England (AFP) - Lewis Hamilton is determined to end his dismal run of form with a strong showing at the British Formula One grand prix this weekend.

The 23-year-old Briton has not gained a single point in his last two races and arrives at Silverstone 10 points adrift of Ferrari's world championship leader Felipe Massa.

However Hamilton is eager to perform in front of what are sure to be huge crowds and the McLaren star believes that racing on home soil can give him the kind of boost he needs to get his season back on track.

"There's something about racing in your home country that definitely affects you," Hamilton said in the official team race preview.

"You can't really say what it is, but there is 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. 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 - 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."

Hamilton snatched a sensational pole position at Silverstone last year but had to settle for third place in the race behind Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen, who would go on to win the world championship.

As well as looking to emulate Raikkonen's performance in Sunday's race, Hamilton is also looking to follow the Finn and produce a come-from-behind championship triumph.

"Kimi was 17 points behind with two races to go last year, the fact that he not only came back but also won the title tells you a lot about how unpredictable this sport can be," added Hamilton, currently lying fourth in the championship.

"You can never take anything for granted and that is why I'm still confident and focused. We've got 10 races remaining, 100 points -- it's all to play for and I'm ready for it."

Hamilton will certainly need to capitalise on any potential home advantage if he is to outgun the two Ferrari drivers who between them have won five of this season's eight races.

Raikkonen is eagerly anticipating his trip to Silverstone and will be even more determined to return to the top step of the podium after a cracked exhaust forced him to settle for second place in France two weeks ago.

"I always like coming back to Silverstone," said Raikkonen. "It is a great track and it has always been working out for me since the beginning of my career.

"Winning at Silverstone gives you a great feeling, because to get there you have to do everything perfectly. It is one of the fastest and most difficult tracks on the race calendar. I don't know why, but I'm a bit nostalgic every time I come back."

Raikkonen is currently third in the title race, three points behind BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica and a further two adrift of Massa.

The Brazilian moved to the top of the championship for the first time in his career at Magny-Cours, but unlike his teammate he does not have particularly fond memories of Silverstone.

"I hope I don't have to have such a tough race as I did last year," Massa admitted this week. "I had a problem in qualifying, started from the back and had to work my way all through the field to finish fifth in the end.

"That was a repeat of my finishing position in 2006 and they are my best results at this event, so there is plenty of potential to finally do something better this time."

With the top teams evenly-matched during the test days at Silverstone last week and the championship race so close, everything is perfectly poised for an exciting shoot-out at one of motorsport's most famous venues.