Lewis Hamilton has said securing his fourth Formula One world championship is an achievement he is enjoying equally as much as his first, for McLaren in 2008. Speaking before this weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix the British driver declined to make any further comment on the allegations of tax avoidance made in the Paradise Papers.
After taking the championship at the last round in Mexico Hamilton became the most successful British driver, with one more title than Sir Jackie Stewart and behind only Juan Manuel Fangio and Michael Schumacher in the record books.
“It feels good walking into the paddock as a world champion,” said Hamilton, who said he had received more than 300 messages of congratulation. “It feels like the first time. I don’t know why, but it feels so fresh and so new, it feels great.”
Since taking the title Hamilton has been one of the high-profile personalities identified in the Paradise Papers; the leak revealed he avoided a £3.3m VAT bill when importing a private jet. His Mercedes team have stated that the matter is in the hands of his lawyers and he would make no further comment. “My team released a statement and I don’t have anything else to add,” he said.
In 2015, when he won his third title at the US Grand Prix, Hamilton finished second to his team-mate, Nico Rosberg, in the remaining three races, giving the German momentum going into 2016 – the year he won the championship. This year, however, Hamilton has no intention of losing focus.
“It is not until the end of the season that my job is fully done,” he said. “I have a good feeling in my heart. What a year it has been, I have enjoyed every moment.
“The championship doesn’t really change anything except that you have the number four next to your name. I am still a racing driver at heart and I have lots of fight left in me. That we have two races to go makes it easier to keep going.”
Mercedes have said they intend to use this race and the finale in Abu Dhabi as opportunities to test new concepts for next season but Hamilton is eager to keep the upper hand over his rival Sebastian Vettel.
“I have to keep the pressure as it has been throughout the year,” he said. “There are still two races to go so it feels abnormal to back off at this point. It is a better time than ever to apply even more pressure.”
