”Say there was a time when you didn’t have your lucky boxer shorts on, or
something, then everything would go to pot.
”When I talked about having a bubble, I thought I needed that bubble.
”Somehow I like to think I have worked around it. I don’t think I have to
have a bubble any more.
”Right now I have a good group of people around me. The only question mark is
whether there are too many or too few. I am on the limit in terms of how
many people I have working with me.
”But I feel I have the right people in place – the right manager, the right
assistant, the right assistant managers.
”I am also in the right team, with the right girlfriend, and living in the
right place, so I feel I have all the pieces of a puzzle coming into place,
with more so in the future.”
Hamilton has certainly been far more outspoken and expressive since joining
Mercedes, claiming he felt constrained at times by McLaren, renowned for
their corporate stature.
In turn, that has also translated into his form on track so far with the
Brackley-based team, even if the 28-year-old finished fifth in Sunday’s
season-opening Australian Grand Prix from third on the grid.
As Hamilton has been invigorated by his move, so the team has been energised
by his arrival, with the rewards there for all to see so far.
”I have been told there is a new sense of life in the team, a newer spirit
with me coming in,” said Hamilton.
”When you join a new team sometimes it takes a long, long time to really
settle in, but to be honest the process has been moving so rapidly that I am
feeling quite good with where I am at the moment.”
Again, with reference to how he had grown stale at McLaren, Hamilton added:
”The move has definitely given me a new spur of life and excitement, which
is great.
”The other day, before flying out to Australia, I felt great just going on
the simulator.
”I had driven the one at McLaren since I was 13, a long, long time, a lot of
laps, and it got to the point where I was dreading going back and doing some
simulator running.”
There is a sense Mercedes’ turnaround, and with Hamilton now at the wheel, has
come much quicker than anybody expected, and so far the enthusiasm on both
sides has been infectious.
”I wouldn’t like to say I have lifted the team. The team is a great one that
has been unfortunate not have a good car,” said Hamilton.
”I hope, because I have come in with a lot of energy and excitement, saying
‘guys, let’s do this, let’s do that’, that I am on it, that I am inspiring
them as they inspire me.
”Working with these guys, asking them questions, gets them thinking ‘He is
really on it, that’s good to see. I’m going to get this done’.
”It has been good to see them working on the input I’ve had, and to see it
happen immediately has been great.”