"I feel less pressure. I don't feel the pressure comes from my surroundings, I feel it comes from within. Putting that pressure on yourself to succeed is what either makes you or breaks you. I still have that pressure on me, but I know I can control it and use it to my own advantage now,” argued Hamilton during a show broadcasted by the ITV this weekend.
“I've won the Championship in my second year, but there is a lot more to come. I can do better, I can be fitter, I can be sharper, I can make less mistakes... I've analyzed everything that's happened this season, the positives and the negatives, and I've turned some of the negatives into positives. I'm enjoying the present and I really look forward to the future,” he added.
The British driver completed a splendid sophomore season inside the Great Circle, being crowned new world champion after one of the most thrilling finales in F1 history. As compared to the first season in the series – when he lost the crown despite holding 17 points of advantage ahead of Kimi Raikkonen with 2 races to go – he managed to maintain his lead ahead of Felipe Massa until the last chequered flag of the season.
With the new season bringing a lot of changes to the F1 spectrum – KERS, slick tires and new aerodynamics – Hamilton insists he still holds the upper hand on all his rivals.
“I think with the slick tires we've got to make sure our new car isn't so hard on the tires and I think we're in a good position to sort that out. Being on slick tires, I've experienced that in GP2 so I won't be lost. I think that's a good place to start from,” concluded the McLaren driver.
Hamilton will resume testing with McLaren Mercedes next month, when the 2009-spec car is expected to make its on-track debut.
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