Mar.26 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has retired to Thailand to regroup following his lacklustre fifth place in the Malaysian grand prix.

According to reports in the British press, the 23-year-old McLaren driver accompanied his close friend and fellow racer Adrian Sutil, as well as trainer Adam Costanzo, to the Thai island of Koh Samui, ahead of next weekend's race in Bahrain.

While Hamilton is leading the drivers' world championship, Sutil is ruing two Force India car failures, and a tough challenge in the form of trying to match teammate veteran Giancarlo Fisichella's pace.

Hamilton said he is not fazed despite failing to impress at the wheel of his MP4-23 at Sepang.

"I'm not down, for sure I'm not," the Briton said.