Despite losing the World title at the final hurdle, Lewis Hamilton admits he exceeded his own expectations this season.
Hamilton admits exceeding expectation in first F1 season
Despite losing the World title at the final hurdle, Lewis Hamilton admits he exceeded even his own expectations this season.
The McLaren rookie burst onto the scene at the season-opening Australian GP, with a podum finish.
It was the start of 17 race-long Championship during which claimed four race wins, an additional eight podium finishes and four pole positions.
However, a few disappointing races at the very end of the season resulted in him losing the World title to Kimi Raikkonen at the final race in Brazil.
But despite finishing runner-up, the 22-year-old Brit is nonetheless proud of all he achieved this year.
He told
The Sun: "It wasn't a great feeling when the gear box went in the last race but I still thought I could win.
"Overall it was a fantastic season.
Experience
"I had so much to learn in such a short period of time, it was a great experience for me.
"I got to the first race and I was as physically and mentally focused as anyone - if not a little bit more.
"I had to use split second decisions to make perfect judgements when the time came and did a pretty good job of it.
"But I didn't have the experience the other drivers had, I just had to take it as it came.
"I'm ranked No2 in the world and that's pretty good in the world. It exceeded my expectations."
Respect
Hamilton also spoke briefly about his relationship with his team-mate Fernando Alonso which has been fraught with issues throughout the season.
But asked whether some of that down Hamilton not showing the double World Champion enough respect, he said: "You think I should have let him win? I always showed respect but I'm not going to sit back. I want to be the best."
And being the best is already his aim for next year's championship.
"Next year I will be even better. This sport is all about winning. It's 22 weeks until the first race of the new season and I can't wait," he said.
