Mercedes has revealed that Lewis Hamilton will take part in Thursday's official FIA press conference at the Circuit of the Americas, the second successive race weekend that the Briton has been called on to attend.

It was his antics during the Thursday press conference in Suzuka that kick-started a difficult weekend for the Briton, culminating in some savage attacks in the British media on the Monday after the race.

The official press conference in Japan was marked by Hamilton playing with his mobile phone using Snapchat to post images of fellow drivers and interact with his followers.

Admitting via the app to his followers, and in person to the media present, that he found the press conferences, stale, boring and a waste of his time, a subsequent media backlash only made matters worse.

At the post qualifying press conference Hamilton accused the media of disrespect and walked out, insisting that he would not be attending any further press calls.

Though he did in fact attend the post-race press conference, having driven a superb race to third following a poor start, media coverage in the British press on the Monday suggested battle lines had been drawn, sections of the media not only questioning his attitude but his state of mind.

While Mercedes played down the situation, it is clear the FIA intends making a point and consequently Hamilton finds himself back in front of his beloved media on Thursday.

Furthermore, despite his claim that he will not talk to the written media - even to the point of blocking some journalists on Twitter - Mercedes media schedule for Austin reveals the Briton will be on duty for all the open print media conferences.

Should be fun.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by -ape-, 25/10/2016 12:35

"
Journaille ...this word says it all."

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2. Posted by Kkiirmki, 19/10/2016 19:28

"“while 99.99% of Mercedes' employees are replaceable Lewis is not”; what an absolute loaded of rubbish. No one man is bigger than the team (or the sport). Do Hamilton fanatics realise how ridiculous comments like this sound? Most of the drivers on the grid (and then some) could win the drivers title in the Mercedes of the last three years. Mercedes would still be winning the constructors championship without him, they don’t need Hamilton, Hamilton needs Mercedes. He wouldn’t be winning anything, if he was driving for the majority of teams in the championship. "

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3. Posted by JackTheCat, 18/10/2016 17:10

""Ultimately though he is nothing more than an employee of Mercedes which pay his wage. The contempt & disrespect he showed last weekend was shameful ...blah blah blah.... sigh"

The point is thought that while 99.99% of Mercedes' employees are replaceable Lewis is not. There are only 3 or 4 other people in the world who can drive like him and they are under contract so the whole employee statement is a little stupid at best.

The championship or losing it is getting to him and last race he had a bit of a meltdown, it happens to all of them in different ways. It's a storm in a teacup and writing nonsense like what's just below this doesn't make it any less so."

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4. Posted by Kico28n, 18/10/2016 13:46

""He is the best and knows it".... as I racing driver perhaps, although his self entitlement is there for all to see. Ultimately though he is nothing more than an employee of Mercedes which pay his wage. The contempt & disrespect he showed last weekend was shameful - regardless of his "superstar"status fed by the fan boys & girls. If he doesn't want to play the complete game with humility & respect then get out of racing & pursue some other activity that will feed his ego. Otherwise act like the mature man he is supposed to be & just get on with it......"

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5. Posted by Ro, 18/10/2016 12:14

"I only wish Lewis Hamilton would take a leaf out of Graham Hill and become sarcastic without being offensive. He is the best and knows it, dont be belittled by cheap journos who wait patiently for a "headline". Hope you win this weekend !"

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Lewis to face media again

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