#360view: How Lewis Hamilton matured into a F1 champion

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  • On top of the World: Lewis Hamilton celebrates his second F1 World Championship title

    When Lewis Hamilton decided to leave McLaren to join Mercedes, many thought he was nuts to walk away from the team where he had grown up to become a world champion and join the German outfit which was hardly blowing everyone away with just one win in three seasons since they returned to the sport.

    It may have looked like an odd decision at the time but it came after those glory days in 2007 when he just missed out on the title and 2008 when he couldn’t put a foot wrong was soon replaced by a difficult period where it looked like he was losing his way.

    Hamilton became distracted by his celebrity lifestyle, fell out with his dad Anthony and his on-off relationship with American pop
    star Nicole Scherzinger took its toll on his racing. I have gone on record before as saying I thought he lost his humility and became arrogant which was reflected in his driving which, at times, was reckless.

    This was not the Lewis Hamilton we all grew to admire.

    But three days ago I sat with Lewis and reminded him of the day I interviewed him when he was 12-years-old and he asked me if I thought back then that he would be looking at two world titles.

    I told him I had no doubt because even at that tender age he had the ability and the self confidence to become a great.

    I also said I hoped the wretched double points that were on offer in yesterday’s race didn’t wreck his chances of picking up his second title, because it was clear this was a more mature, happier, relaxed and refocused Lewis Hamilton.

    When I asked him how much a second title meant to him he said it meant the world because he wanted to win it for his family.

    Family man: Lewis Hamilton celebrates with his wife Nicole Scherzinger

    He and his father are reconciled and his relationship with Nicole now appears steady – her emotional reaction to yesterday’s triumph testimony to that.

    So the personal issues that clearly destablised him for a while have long gone to be replaced by invaluable support from all those he loves and his decision to join Mercedes has proved to be a shrewd one, particularly when you look at the way McLaren have struggled since he left two years ago.

    Yes, he still clearly still enjoys the celebrity status that comes with the territory but he now has his priorities in order.

    The private jet, gold jewellery and diamond studs in his ears are still there but he is more down to earth and that all imporant

    humility is back. The stability in his private life has allowed that astonishing racing talent to come to the fore once again.

    He took a while to settle into his new team but Mercedes delivered a car and engine for both Lewis and Nico Rosberg which was far superior to anything else out there this season and they should be applauded for a magnificent campaign.

    We should also not forget the role Rosberg played in what has been a thrilling rivalry. He drove brilliantly. Yesterday we were
    denied a tense final head-to-head battle between the two Mercedes stars when Hamilton took off like a rocket and Rosberg’s luck ran out at the Yas Marina circuit.

    Thankfully, double points didn’t play a part in deciding what was the right result because Lewis has been the best driver with 11 race victories.

    As he said himself, it was the best day of his life and Abu Dhabi can be proud that it provided the perfect stage for Hamilton to show he is truly back to his best. 

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