Hamilton in confident mood

21 April 2015 03:47

Lewis Hamilton has conceded to feeling more powerful now than at any stage in his Formula One career.

It is an ominous warning from a man who has won nine of the last 11 grands prix, been on pole at the last four, and who already holds a 27-point cushion in the drivers' standings.

It is no wonder after winning in Bahrain, when Hamilton stepped out of his Mercedes, he immediately stood on top of it and pretended to smack an imaginary baseball out of the circuit.

It was another 'home run' performance from Hamilton, a man who claims he is a perfectionist, and who appears to be driving as close to perfection as can possibly be achieved in the sport.

It led to the suggestion that perhaps he was feeling unbeatable, to which he replied: "I don't know what the feeling of being unbeatable is.

"I know I feel very powerful in this car with the package we have, and I feel I'm able to get everything from it.

"I also feel more comfortable in this car than I did in the one last year, and I feel within myself, with whatever approach I have, the power is greater than ever in terms of strength in the car.

"It's like 'yes'. I put the car there and it goes there, I get the exit.

"Naturally you always feel there are things you can still improve on, but it's hard to always pinpoint what those are and to tell the team what to focus on.

"That's what a team leader has to do, and, along with Nico (Rosberg), I'm trying to guide the team, to tell them where to go next."

Yet do not dare to suggest to Hamilton that he does not work as hard off the track in terms of poring over every aspect of what is required to ensure he is at one with his car.

In being compared with former McLaren team-mate Jenson Button in the past, or Rosberg at present, the feeling has generally been they are more studious than Hamilton, who simply just drives.

"Of course I analyse. You can't be a world champion without doing that," Hamilton said.

"I remember speaking about this a long time ago and I don't know if people get a perception as to who you are as a driver, but I work as hard as any other driver.

"Just because I do things differently it doesn't mean I'm worse.

"There was a point where people said Nico was a doctor of this or that; Jenson was a doctor of his tyres.

"I tick off all the boxes, and I've worked to do that.

"The results I get are not only from my raw ability because I study hard, I work hard to make notes about my tyres, about every single thing I do, which I've done since my days in Formula Three.

"Ultimately, I don't care what people think. I just do the job."

Source: PA