Hamilton 'much happier' compared to 2007 debut year

Lewis Hamilton believes he is "much happier" in Formula 1 now compared to his debut year in 2007.

The seven-time World Champion made his F1 debut with McLaren in 2007 at the Australian Grand Prix, when he was teammates with Fernando Alonso.

Hamilton managed to challenge for the title but missed out by one point from Kimi Räikkönen, after a gearbox problem during the final round in Brazil. He subsequently stayed at McLaren and took his first title in 2008, but would need to wait six years before his next in 2014 with Mercedes.

When asked by Formule1 about what the biggest difference is between now and then, Hamilton responded: “At least sixteen years, haha. In 2007 I was just 22 years old, I was still a sentimental child. I didn't know much about the world yet, I had traveled a bit at most.

"You are still discovering who you are, who you want to be. Today I know that by now, I know what I want in life. In any case, I am a much happier person than then.”

Love/hate relationship

Hamilton enters his 18th season in F1 and recently signed a contract that takes him until the end of the 2025 season, but admits that he did not foresee that he would be in the top flight of motorsport for this long.

“I never thought that after such a long time in Formula 1 I would still feel the same love for the sport.

"It is a hate-love relationship, at times you like it more than at other times. I do think there will come a time when you will have enough of it. But love is still there.”