Hill tips Hamilton to win 2007 title

"My tip is Lewis. I think he has got the wind behind him somehow," Hill told reporters on Tuesday during a news conference.

"I think we are going to see the interesting bit, because Lewis is incredible and there is no question about that, but Fernando is not going to just evaporate. He showed in the US that he was there to come back into the fight and it will be interesting to see what happens in France."

Rookie Hamilton leads the championship by 10 points from Alonso after having finished all seven races on the podium, including two victories in Canada and the United States.

Hill believes Hamilton is the favourite because he has nothing to lose after his sensational debut.

"The new kid on the block, he has got nothing to lose," Hill said of Hamilton. "He has to go for broke because he has got no history, it is all to be made. But the guy has just done staggeringly brilliantly.

"He is just so complete and confidence and enjoying himself, he has got to the level where he has got time to enjoy it which is the main thing.

"It is fantastic to watch. But you watch the championship unfold and it is a very cool customer who can go to sleep on the night before the deciding race and get a good night's sleep."

The BRDC president believes it is only natural that there will be some tension between Alonso and Hamilton, as both want to win races at all costs.

Hill also understands, however, that McLaren try to control the races to minimize the risks of throwing away a good result.

"I think racing drivers like to race and they don't like being told what to do," he added. "They respect the fact they have been given opportunities but they are there for themselves.

"That is the truth. I think it has to be respected. It sometimes is implied that they are selfish. Well? Yes. That is the point. The point if for you to win, and not the other guy. And the rest of the planet applauds that, of course.

"As a team someone has put years of effort and years of hard work into designing the cars, getting the right people, going and putting on a fantastic show for the sponsors who pay millions of pounds and it looks terrific because you get a 1-2, so imagine the frustration if your two guys are determined to destroy that.

"But that is the gamble you take, and that is the understanding I think ... that is the line where you have to start respecting the drivers' ambitions, and after all it is at least half about the drivers, and what the drivers are here for."

Hill also told McLaren boss Ron Dennis to enjoy the fight between his drivers rather than worrying too much about keeping harmony within the team.

"I think Ron wants a perfect ending and I think he wants it all to be harmonious, I can understand that," Hill said. "But I think he thinks the trouble is created from outside and injected into the camp with an attempt to upset things. Well, I think that is impossible to control.

"Some things are impossible to control and I think that the best thing to do would be just to enjoy it. Ron has done his bit. He is 60 years old. He has done just incredible things really and he has created an incredible team and he has got the two most incredible drivers, and I think nobody is out to destroy it, but the more you try and protect it the easier it is for it to go off.

"They are bound to want to race each other, they are bound to want to do whatever they can to win. It is understandable that he wants to create a harmonious condition but he also has to respect that drivers want to race - so what am I doing giving advice to Ron Dennis?"