Hamilton says Perez feeling the pressure at McLaren

There has been a heightened level of scrutiny on Perez's performance at McLaren after a troubled weekend in China.

But although the Mexican himself says he is 'amazed' by the criticisms that have been levelled against him, the man he replaced at the Woking-based team has his own views on the situation.

"There is a lot of pressure when you are in such a powerful strong team like that," explained Hamilton.

"It is not easy when the team relies on you - just as it would here - to get the two drivers to pull those results out.

"If you don't, you feel it - and he [Perez] looks like an individual who feels it."

Hamilton has first-hand experience of the expectations to deliver at McLaren as a young driver, but reckons the situation is easier for Perez than it was for him when he signed as a rookie in 2007.

"I would say it was easier for him, because he has been racing already in F1 so he knows what it is all about, he knows what it is like at the first corner," he said

"Whereas for me, I had no understanding of what it would be like when I got here. It was just a lot different for me. "

He added: "He has a lot to learn, and McLaren will give him all the opportunity to do that. There is huge pressure at McLaren, there always is."