Hamilton has gained maturity and is aiming for the title
At the dawn of this 2014 season, the 29-year-old 2008 world champion driver believes he has gained in maturity. A major asset that, he hopes, will allow him to clinch a second world title.
A new man
Under the Melbourne sun, Lewis Hamilton displays a radiant smile. Just hours away from starting his second season with Mercedes, the British driver seems unperturbed and more confident than ever about his chances of clinching a second crown this year. His car seems well-designed and logically places him among the favorites at the start of this season. But, according to him, it is above all the man who has changed. Past seasons have sometimes been challenging and have allowed him to take a step back: « I have faced difficulties on my path, but I have always felt like I managed to bounce back. The important thing is not the fall, but how you overcome it. »
A touch nostalgic, Hamilton looks back: « I had a good year in 2012 and I probably also had a chance in 2010 that I couldn’t seize. I won my world title several years ago now, it seems far away today. »
The experience gained during his career has helped him mature. A maturity he wishes to showcase on the track: “I am 29 now. And it feels like I made my debut ages ago. I’m starting to be one of the older ones on the grid, and I feel like I’m gaining maturity. I hope this will be reflected in my performances. I’m still here and much more motivated than I was back then, more focused than ever.”
Damon Hill and David Coulthard vote Hamilton
For the 1996 world champion Damon Hill, Hamilton can certainly aim for a second title this season: If last year his decision to move from McLaren to Mercedes seemed wise, this year it could sound like a masterstroke. The indicators are clear, Mercedes are the favorites.
Opinion shared by David Coulthard in the Guardian’s stands. The Scotsman believes a lot in Lewis Hamilton this season: “I believe that Lewis’s speed and his ability to drive simply and instinctively will place him ahead of his teammate. He is definitely my favorite for the championship. I don’t say this because I support British drivers, I have great respect for Nico (Rosberg). But we know Lewis’s potential, he has already won the world championship, we know he has been in wheel-to-wheel duels with Fernando Alonso, we know he has achieved many incredible things.”
