Lewis Hamilton dismisses suggestions off-track issues are affecting him again

The Briton was hugely downbeat after finishing third in Australia - with a number of observers including David Coulthard suggesting that it was evidence that Jenson Button had gained the upper hand at the team.

But Hamilton himself brushed off such claims - and said that he was fully justified in being so unhappy at failing to convert his pole position in to a victory.

"I had just worked massively hard over the winter, harder than I ever worked, and the result of the race didn't go the way I wanted it to," said Hamilton, who finished behind Button and Sebastian Vettel.

"I think it was fair to be disappointed. I don't feel that I should have to disguise that."

Hamilton explained that a number of factors - including a clutch problem off the line and the wrong set-up - wrecked his chances of battling Button for the win.

"It was a weekend where I started on pole, and there were two or three things that went wrong in the race that were out of my control. I felt I performed quite well and definitely would have liked to have had my car in a slightly difference position in the set-up and race, but I will alter that this weekend so it shouldn't be a problem.

"I had too much oversteer in high speed, and had a different front wing set-up to Jenson, which I had chosen - and it wasn't the right one.

"Qualifying had been great, and the car can definitely be better in the race - which it will be this weekend. It was just a few things that didn't go my way, but that is motor racing."

Hamilton believes that McLaren could be in even better shape in Malaysia this weekend than they were in Australia.

"Our car is quite good in the high speed corners as it was in Barcelona testing, although it is also quite good in the low speed stuff. I think we should be quite competitive this week, and it should feel better than it did last time."