Hamilton learns from experiences

Lewis Hamilton insists he heads into the new Formula One season a more well-rounded character in light of his past experiences.

In three years, Hamilton has endured more ups and down than many drivers go through in an entire career, and he feels that is to his benefit.

’Spy-gate’ and ’lie-gate’ have been the undoubted negatives, but there have been 11 grand prix wins, 17 poles and a world title in 2008 to fall back on and comfortably overshadow those bad times.

Hamilton also knows what it is like to drive a wretched car, as he endured throughout the first half of last year before McLaren turned their campaign around over the second half.

The 25-year-old maintains, though, it is not just F1 that has made him the driver and character he is today, but also the many years in building up to his breakthrough.

“People only see my career in Formula One,” said Hamilton.

“They don’t see what I did before I got here and the struggles I had in different years and different races.

“I have been in positions where I’ve not been competitive enough and struggled to compete for a good position.”