The challenges of going back-to-back: Lewis Hamilton must conquer himself to once again conquer F1

Illustration by Kevin Jeffers / The National

The biggest threat to Lewis Hamilton in his fight for a third Formula One World Championship title might not be Nico Rosberg, the Briton's childhood friend and teammate who pushed him to his limits last season.

The biggest threat to Hamilton in 2015 might be himself.

The Mercedes-GP driver arrived in Melbourne this week ahead of Sunday's season opening Australian Grand Prix as world champion and hot favourite, but, critically, as a lone ranger.

Separated from long-term girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger and split from management company XIX Entertainment, Hamilton - who is chasing back-to-back titles and a third of his career - enters the new season without any of the stability he enjoyed last year.

Such uncertainty has the ability to mess with a driver’s mindset, a fact that Hamilton, who turned 30 in January, knows only too well.

In 2011, while with McLaren-Mercedes, the British driver’s tumultuous personal life coincided with the worst season of his career.

Not only did he finish fifth in the championship, comprehensively beaten by teammate Jenson Button, but he was criticised – and sometimes fined – for his immature behaviour, which included an ill-advised “maybe it’s because I’m black” remark in Monaco after being penalised by stewards for on-track incidents with Felipe Massa and Pastor Maldonado.

At the penultimate race of 2011, at Yas Marina Circuit, Hamilton confessed he had struggled after losing the “big, positive bubble” that had surrounded him in previous years.

“The conscious and subconscious part of your mind is very important in this business,” he said at the time, as much to himself as to anyone.

Three seasons on and a lot has changed. When Rosberg collided with Hamilton at Spa-Francorchamps last year, ruining the latter’s race, the Hamilton of old may have struggled to keep his emotions in check. He may have let it linger in his frontal lobe for the rest of the season, awaiting a chance to avenge an act he deemed deliberate.

Instead, this time Hamilton reacted in a different manner. Although he revealed this week that he had felt he had to go to “war” against his teammate, he did so by letting his driving do the fighting. At the first race after Belgium, in Italy, he appeared perfectly at peace and proceeded to win six of the next seven races as he overturned a 29-point deficit to clinch his second world title. He called his mindset “impenetrable”.

Hamilton said unlike in previous years where personal issue affected his life in general, he now feels able to cope much better mentally with challenges.

“I still carry that kind of mentality from last year and while it’s not been easy, I feel stronger than ever,” he said.

“Having been in this position before, I don’t feel that it’s going to be a problem. I still feel like I’ve got enough in place to do what I need to do and to be the best I can be.”

Questions have already been asked regarding the two-time champion’s focus and they will be certain to intensify should results not be what is expected of him.

While many of Hamilton’s racing rivals have been quick to post images of their training regimes as they prepare for this weekend, Hamilton’s social media feeds are filled with fashion shows and celebrity hobnobbing.

Of the more than 90 images he has posted on Instagram since the start of the year, less than 25 have obvious links to F1.

“I’m massively into fashion awards, but have been for the past few years,” he said.

Asked whether he felt his profile had risen since winning the 2014 drivers’ championship last November, Hamilton replied in words more suited to somebody who has spent periods of the off-season negotiating a new contract with his employers at Mercedes.

“I would hope that it’s grown,” he said “Ultimately, you want to continue to grow and you want to broaden your visibility as well, because it’s good for the sponsors.

“That’s where F1 is now. It’s entertainment, but it’s also a great place for the team and for companies to promote their logos and continue to build their brands.”

The Monaco resident’s three-year contract with the German manufacturers expires in November, after the last race of the season in Abu Dhabi.

Yet while Simon Fuller’s XIX agency has been trusted with the careers of, among others, David Beckham and Andy Murray, Hamilton was happy to allow his four-year deal to expire at the end of last year. Hamilton now conducts his own negotiations.

“I’m not too sure I’ve enjoyed it,” he said of the continuing discussions. “It’s a very, very nerve-racking experience, but I’m glad I’ve done it. If I’d not done something like this I would have always wondered if I could or could not.

“I learnt a lot from my dad and from Simon and the people around me,” Hamilton said, referring to his father, Anthony, who managed him until 2010.

“But in general I’m just trying to do due diligence and understand, firstly, where we are and what best can be improved on and where it can grow and benefit the team and myself.”

Hamilton said negotiations could be wrapped up soon, which would be the ideal scenario for all involved. Mercedes will be acutely aware that the fewer issues distracting Hamilton off track, the better he is likely to perform on it.

With the marque’s W06 Hybrid showing ominous pace throughout pre-season testing and the Englishman having proved himself against his teammate last year, all indications suggest Hamilton is the only man who can prevent himself from emulating his hero Ayrton Senna and claiming the third title he has always dreamt of.

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