Monday 4 August at 10:36 : Lewis Hamilton exposed himself to a greater risk of getting a puncture by flat-spotting his tyre during the Hungarian grand prix.

That was the analysis at the Hungaroring of Bridgestone's racing boss Hirohide Hamashima, who said immediately after the race that the McLaren driver's problem was probably the result of hitting debris rather than a failure.

"A flat spot makes you more vulnerable to a puncture," the Japanese told the Telegraph, "because it makes the tyre thinner in that area and therefore you have less protection against debris damage."

Hamilton had three tyre problems in his rookie title challenge last year, leading some to suggest his notably aggressive driving style may be contributing to the problem.

He told reporters in Budapest: "I was the one to get a puncture and it was a case of 'Oh no, not again'.

"I had it three times last year and that's what really lost me the championship," Hamilton added.