Amid the widespread scrutiny of Lewis Hamilton, his mentor and team boss Ron Dennis has leapt to the Shanghai pole sitter's defence.

All and sundry in the paddock of the Chinese grand prix and beyond, the 23-year-old Briton's rivals, foes and supporters have been micro-analysing his credentials and character as he looks to put a lid on his first world title.

Words like "aggressive" and "over confident" are now par for the course, and F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone believes Hamilton's brash attitude "irritates" some.

McLaren's Dennis said on Saturday: "Lewis is no different to any of the other great champions in sport; Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher, Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, they all had attitude."

Hamilton, who could wrap up the championship in China, has been the man to beat all weekend; fast throughout practice and qualifying, and ultimately two places ahead of his chief rival Felipe Massa on the grid.

"It looks like the McLaren guys had an easier car to put the lap together," the Ferrari driver said. "Anyway we don't know how it is going to be in the race."

Source: GMM