Mercedes bosses think Lewis Hamilton will bounce back in Austin

Niki Lauda thinks Lewis Hamilton will return to form both on and off the track in Austin next week.

The reigning world champion's 2016 title hopes were severely dented in Malaysia because of engine failure, then last weekend in Japan he was heavily scrutinised by the media for his off-track behaviour.

When asked if Hamilton was wasting his energy on unnecessary things at a crucial part of the season, team boss Toto Wolff admitted: "The danger is that you can't check off these things easily.

"On the other hand, Nico (Rosberg) does everything right, pushing all distractions aside, which is working for him this year," he told German television.

Wolff's coleague and compatriot Niki Lauda has said that he will talk to Hamilton in a bid to get him to refocus on what is important.

"It will not get out of hand," he said. "We will talk to him so that he can politely proceed with the media, especially when we convene our press conferences."

Hamilton's team mate Nico Rosberg said after the Japanese Grand Prix that Hamilton is working harder than ever, a sentiment that Wolff agrees with.

"In Malaysia, I saw a Lewis who dominated the weekend and then he had the engine failure, and if he had had a week (to move on) it would have been all ok," he said.

"But then there was the press conference and this media story. Whether it influenced him? I don't think so. I don't think it's his priority," added Wolff.