SAO PAULO, Brazil - Lewis Hamilton will be stronger in 2012 thanks to his "year of learning" in 2011 and a roller-coaster year of incident and controversy at McLaren.
"I was talking to a friend recently," he explained, "and said it's been a difficult year. He said it's been a year of growth which was one of the most positive things I have learned this year.
'I NEEDED THAT'
"It really has... what I've learned this year I'll take into 2012 so I feel positive about it. I think in future I'll look back on this season, smile, and say 'I needed that!'. I haven't really thought about the last victory in Abu Dhabi - afterwards I was just back in the simulator and thinking about this race but I 've had a really good few positive days since then which have meant more to me than the race win.
"I have a lot of positive energy."
Hamilton is a favourite to win the season-ending Brazilian GP but admitted he was focused on 2012. "There's only one driver who has won more this year - Sebastian (Vettel) - so it could be worse, but it could also always be better. If I look back on 2012 as one in which I learned quite a bit - I'm a lot wiser than when I started the season."
Stay with Wheels24 for the F1 weekend.
"I was talking to a friend recently," he explained, "and said it's been a difficult year. He said it's been a year of growth which was one of the most positive things I have learned this year.
'I NEEDED THAT'
"It really has... what I've learned this year I'll take into 2012 so I feel positive about it. I think in future I'll look back on this season, smile, and say 'I needed that!'. I haven't really thought about the last victory in Abu Dhabi - afterwards I was just back in the simulator and thinking about this race but I 've had a really good few positive days since then which have meant more to me than the race win.
"I have a lot of positive energy."
Hamilton is a favourite to win the season-ending Brazilian GP but admitted he was focused on 2012. "There's only one driver who has won more this year - Sebastian (Vettel) - so it could be worse, but it could also always be better. If I look back on 2012 as one in which I learned quite a bit - I'm a lot wiser than when I started the season."
Stay with Wheels24 for the F1 weekend.