Lewis Hamilton says he feels "the best I have ever been" heading in to this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix.
The defending drivers' champion has taken pole position at all four races so far this season and converted three of those in to victory, finishing second to Sebastian Vettel in Malaysia. Having taken 93 points from a potential 100, Hamilton spent part of the break between races in the United States, taking in the boxing match between Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas.
Being able to pursue interests outside F1 and still perform to such a level, Hamilton says he is in the best place professionally that he has ever been since entering F1.
"I’m probably the happiest I’ve been for a long, long time, career wise," Hamilton said. "Outside, it’s great when you can do things that you want to do and you know are not a distraction and then you still perform. Then nobody can say anything about it, and even if they do it doesn’t make any difference.
"I make my decisions and I’m very careful with what I choose to do to make sure they don’t come in the way of ultimately preparing for my races and becoming world champion. In the car and at my age, I feel the best that I have ever been."
And Hamilton says part of his current form is down to the enjoyment of exploring new approaches to each race weekend.
"We arrive at the track every weekend and you get in and do the same thing. It’s trying to be innovative with the set-up, trying new things, it’s new approaches and different approaches to techniques you use – whether it be braking, accelerating, engine braking – all those different things. Rather than do the same thing every time, I’ve been trying to put new things in the mix and see if they work and sometimes they do and sometimes they don’t.
"When you’re driving against competitors it’s about not using the same patterns. It’s about coming up with fun and exciting ways of getting around the corner or attacking a driver, which I love. Perhaps that’s why I have even more of a love for the sport today than I have in the past."
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