Cool Lewis ready for Shanghai showdown

Lewis Hamilton today hit back at fierce criticism of his aggressive driving by dominating both opening practice sessions for Sunday's Chinese Grand Prix.

As Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone demanded a "hard but fair" conclusion to an increasingly acrimonious season, Hamilton served notice of his intention to do all in his power to wrap up the title in Shanghai.

The 23-year-old British hope, who can claim a maiden world championship if he scores six points more than closest challenger Felipe Massa, beat the Ferrari ace by nearly half a second in morning practice and by nearly three quarters of a second in the afternoon.

Those are huge margins by Formula One standards and are hardly likely to help thaw the increasingly frosty relationship Hamilton has with his paddock rivals many of whom are angered by what they percieve as his reckless driving style.

Renault's Fernando Alonso, the two-times former champion who still bears a grudge against Hamilton after he was outraced by the rookie when they were McLaren team-mates last season, revealed he was prepared to help Massa win the championship and there are fears that other drivers with a grudge against Hamilton could do the same.

It is these concerns that drivers could gang up on the Briton that moved Ecclestone to attempt to defuse increasing tensions between the teams.

The sport's chief said: "We want fair play at all times. Hard and close racing, yes, but fair play, too, without drivers being put in danger.

"The wider world is watching and awaiting the outcome of what has turned into a great championship. We don't want it spoiled and we will crack down on any dirty tricks."

This morning, Red Bull driver Mark Webber denied saying Hamilton could kill somebody if the McLaren team leader persisted with making marginal overtaking manoeuvres like the one at the first corner in Japan last Sunday - a move which saw outgoing world champion Kimi Raikkonen run off the road.

But the Australian, an influential director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, admitted that Hamilton's overambitious move on Raikkonen had raised concerns which he will discuss with F1 race director Charlie Whiting at a briefing later this evening.