Exclusive - Allen: 'Hamilton needs to remember it’s all about the driving'

James Allen has reminded Lewis Hamilton he needs to focus on events on the track if he wants to get his challenge for the Drivers’ Championship back on course.

Hamilton finished sixth in Monaco at the weekend, but was twice penalised by the stewards for driving offences and he later launched a stinging attack on the sport’s officials.

And F1 commentator Allen believes Hamilton is being distracted by off-track events.

He told Saggers & Quinny: “Hamilton has changed a bit in the last couple of years. He came in as an exciting new talent and almost won the championship in his first season and it was all about the driving and about racing, very intense.

“But now he’s got older and had success, he’s got a pop star girlfriend, more bling, he’s hanging out in LA and his life has more dimensions and distractions.

“He needs to remember it’s all about the driving and the winning and he needs to focus on that.”

Hamilton’s outburst at the stewards in the South of France was the latest in a string of verbal attacks this season, and Allen feels he could find himself in more disciplinary hot water.

He added: “Hamilton’s attack on the stewards was not expected. He’s in a funny place at the moment. In football you’re used to people having a go at the ref, but it’s not done in F1.

“He’s had a few things to say recently. He’s criticised the team a couple of times, which you just don’t do in Formula One. And some of the stuff he said about the stewards was way over the top. You can’t help but feel the governing body won’t take that lying down.”