Lewis Hamilton thinks he was knocked unconscious after crashing out of the recent Belgian grand prix.

Cockpit replays of the incident, where the McLaren driver actually dented the Spa-Francorchamps barriers after clashing with Kamui Kobayashi, showed Hamilton completely motionless for 15 seconds in the wake of the impact.

The 2008 world champion admits it is possible he was knocked out.

“I don’t really remember much from hitting the wall,” the Daily Star newspaper quotes him as saying at Monza.

“It’s possible I was out for a couple of seconds, I’m not really sure.”

The crash was the latest incident in a series for Hamilton this year, and he told the BBC 2011 might go down as the “worst” in his F1 career so far.

“I have got to find my way, learn from any mistakes and try to smooth out the creases through these last seven races,” he is quoted as saying by the Guardian.

Hamilton, 26, said he has managed to avoid all the media speculation about his aggressive driving style since Spa.

“I don’t read them, but I hear there are pretty bad stories written about me, so I am thinking it will be good to give you guys something good to write about me,” he told reporters ahead of the Italian grand prix.

“I guess I’m an easy target at the moment because I’m always in trouble.”

Some of his rivals defended Hamilton on Thursday, including Sauber’s Kobayashi, who insisted F1 drivers “need to be aggressive”.

Agreed Mark Webber: “He’s not that aggressive, he’s ok. He’s just had a tough run in the last few races.”

Hamilton’s own McLaren teammate Jenson Button, however, admitted he doesn’t always agree with his countryman’s methods.

“I personally feel it’s better to talk to the team than talk though the media, but we are built differently,” he said.

In the eyes of the foreign language media, Michael Schumacher was the bad-boy of Sunday’s Hungarian grand prix.
In English, British tabloids called for the 41-year-old to return to retirement after pushing his former Ferrari teammate Rubens Barrichello towards the pitwall at the Hungaroring.

And even the Daily Telegraph said the Mercedes driver’s “arrogance can no longer be tolerated in formula one”.

In Italy, La Gazzetta dello Sport said the German finally “went too far” with the violent defence of tenth position.

“The arrogant Schumacher showed no remorse but is the same as ever; never his fault. It was a miracle that this manoeuvre did not end badly.”

The Italian sports daily referred to the fact that the seven time world champion is an ambassador for the FIA’s road safety campaign.

“A little advice for those starting their holidays; if someone tries to overtake you, please to the exact opposite of what the celebrated ex-champion did in Hungary.”

La Repubblica and Corriere dello Sport called the move “madness”, Il Secolo XIX said it marked his “demise”, and Tuttosport said it was “dangerous”.

“Barrichello just avoided crashing into the wall and landing in hospital, if not worse,” added the report.

Corriere della Sera added: “Schumacher the villain, as he has always been.”

Spain’s sports newspaper Marca said: “Schumacher’s return to formula one is one of the darkest chapters in the history of the sport.”

At the same time, Schumacher posted an apology on his website, after viewing replays of the incident.

“I have to say the stewards were right in their decision. My move against him was too hard,” he said.

“I clearly showed him that I didn’t want to let him pass but, looking at it rationally, I wasn’t seeking to endanger him (Barrichello) with my manoeuvre.

“If he feels I was then all I can say is sorry, this wasn’t my intention,” he added.

Red Bull’s dominance seemed apparent on Friday, as the controversy about flexible front wings looked set to continue.

Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber were a second clear of the next best runner, Robert Kubica’s Renault, in the morning practice session in Hungary.

Slow-motion replays captured by the sport’s broadcaster Formula One Management highlighted the extent to which the extremities of the RB6′s front wing bend towards the track.

The highest-placed Ferrari was Hockenheim winner Fernando Alonso, 1.8 seconds off the pace, amid suggestions the team has decided not to run its flexible wing at the Hungaroring.

“We will see what we will end up using,” said chief engineer Chris Dyer.

Red Bull’s Christian Horner told the BBC: “I’m sure the Ferraris will be quick around here — but I’m also sure the circuit will suit our car, and our drivers like driving here.”

According to the official weather forecaster, there is a chance of rain for the afternoon practice session.