I am firmly set among those ranks of the mystified who are puzzled and concerned by the dramatic reversal of Lewis Hamilton in a championship chase where he has been overshadowed and humbled by his old foe Sebastian Vettel in the splendidly resurgent Ferrari.

One wonders whether the mega-rich 32-year-old’s flashy lifestyle, his world wanderings in his private jet or aboard his yacht partying with myriad movie and pop stars, bikini-clad models and hangers-on could be hindering his concentration and dedication in a fast fading tilt at a fourth world title.

His fascination, too, with extreme dare-devilry pursuits, thrill-seeking on skateboards, dune buggies, water-skis, snow boards and other adrenalin boosting outings in the far-off likes of Jamaica, Costa Rica, Mexico and Monaco, is a growing concern even to his own family — let alone his Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff. Even so he refuses to abandon these chancy breaks.

I am absolutely certain that Wolff would prefer his star driver to abandon his risky jaunts, and party pastimes away from the track and concentrate wholly on the job for which he is paid around £30 million (Dh142.35 million) a year.

There are further widespread worries that Hamilton may not be quite so fired up this time around as he has been in the past when he fearsomely hunted down his crowns.

The anxieties were underpinned last time out when he underwhelmingly flopped in qualifying for the showcase Monaco Grand Prix without making it into the top ten final qualifying shoot out — and then haplessly ended up in seventh place, well adrift of Vettel, who totted up a 25-point lead over Hamilton in the championship.

There has been frantic activity behind the Silver Arrows HQ, verbally and mechanically, in a desperate attempt to give Hamilton a winning car and to ensure he himself appreciates its ability — that is, if they manage to get it right — and improve on the results that have seen him win only twice to Vettel’s thrice.

Hope, as the saying goes, springs eternal and Canada, scene of Sunday’s crucial clash, has been a very happy hunting ground for this recently faded force. He has triumphed there five times from nine starts and has been on the podium six times with five pole placings.

He now faces 70 laps of the thoroughly testing Montreal track with 190 miles offering him the opportunity to get back to his winnings ways and overturn Vettel’s runaway style.

Wolff, whose usually implacable and confident attitude has been slightly sabotaged by the Mercedes slow down, reveals that he and his mechanics have been working flat out at the factory.

”We want to resolve our current difficulties,” he stresses, “and we have been concentrating on that issue.”

Almost wincing at the embarrassing memory of Monaco he adds: “We have had bruising grands prix before and it is all about showing resistance and resilience and getting up after falling down.

“We have had troubles before which have hurt us — and we know how to address the problems. The season is a marathon not a sprint. And I know that Lewis will give it his best shot.

“Our defeats have hurt us badly, but we see ourselves bouncing back after Monaco with a strong result. Now we have to fight back for all we are worth for every win, podium and point.

“It is painful to see that we are not favourites to win this year’s world championship. That, for the moment, is Ferrari and Sebastian. They have a strong package — but we will take them on.”

Brave and bold words. All he needs now is ensure that Hamilton, his power in reverse, finds a way forward and an escape from what seems to be mentally based setback of mega proportions.

Hamilton, referring to his keenness for dodgy extreme pursuits says: ”My family tell me off all the time and want me to stop. But I would never do anything to jeopardise my responsibility to the team and the sponsors who work very hard. Formula One means too much to me for that. Success is what drives me forward.”

If that’s so, Lewis, and I speak on behalf of a global multimillion fan base, as well as your boss Mr. Wolff, why don’t you cut out the playboy lifestyle altogether. At least in season...

— The author is an expert on motorsport