Hamilton makes a start of term vow

LEWIS Hamilton has promised to bring his championship-winning form to the first race of the new season after admitting too much partying contributed to his end-ofyear wobble.

The 32-year-old Briton vowed to end the season in style after a series of immaculate performances, particularly in the second half of the campaign, paved the way for him to wrap up his fourth title with two rounds to spare.

However, he finished only fourth at the penultimate grand prix in Brazil following a crash in qualifying and was then second best to Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas at Sunday’s underwhelming season finale in Abu Dhabi.

After Hamilton sealed the championship in 2015, he lost the remaining three races to Nico Rosberg and it was a winning momentum the German would carry into his titlewinning year.

Hamilton had hoped to avoid such a scenario this term but the Englishman said: “There is zero concern for me.

“It is clear something happens when you win the championship. In the week after I won the title in Mexico I partied a lot. That is what you do.

“I still drove relatively well but I would not say I was at 100% like I was during the rest of the season. My sleep and energy has definitely been different these last couple of races.

“I have tried to approach them in the same way but, if you do not prepare in the same way, you do not get the right results. I am not bothered about that. Next year it will go back to how it was in the second half of the season.”

Hamilton will be formally presented with his titlewinning trophy at the FIA’s annual prizegiving gala in Paris on Friday evening. He will then see out the remainder of the year with a number of sponsorship commitments before officially taking a holiday midway through December.

Hamilton, out of contract at the end of 2018, is also due to hold further talks with Mercedes’ hierarchy over a new deal which could see him become Formula One’s highestpaid driver on £45m a year.