LONDON, June 18, 2008 (AFP) - The pressure of expectations is weighing heavily on Lewis Hamilton as he bids to win the Formula One world title, but he insists he will be all the better for the experience.

The McLaren driver´s remarks came after he was hit with a 10-place grid penalty for crashing into title rival Kimi Raikkonen in the pits in the Canadian Grand Prix.

"The sport is fun, but there´s a way you have to learn to enjoy it," he said in an interview with BBC Sport.

"There´s so much pressure, and I can´t begin to explain how much pressure I have on my shoulders."

The Canadian mishap meant that Hamilton, in just his second year of Formula One, lost the world championship lead to BMW Sauber´s Robert Kubica with the French Grand Prix to follow this weekend.

The penalty means winning at Magny-Cours will be almost impossible - he will be moved 10 places back on the starting grid from wherever he qualifies.

The French track is also expected to favour Ferrari, whose drivers Raikkonen and Felipe Massa are considered more serious title rivals than Kubica, whose position owes much to consistency in a car that is not as fast as those of the top two teams.

"I put a lot of pressure on myself, and when you don´t succeed it doesn´t feel so great," Hamilton said. "But these are character-building days and the days that make you stronger.

"I didn´t win the last race but I´m loving this. I get to come back here, work with the guys and push forward, and there´s a great atmosphere, always pushing to get better and I wouldn´t change it for the world. I´m really enjoying myself."