Barcelona - Lewis Hamilton is more in love with Formula One now than he has been in the past -- and he relishes the technical challenge of beating his rivals to stay on top.
As Mercedes' team-mate Nico Rosberg seeks a way to defeat his partner for the first time in five races this year, and rivals Ferrari raise their performance potential in pursuit of a second triumph, two-time world champion Hamilton admitted Thursday that he relishes the pressure.
"I love it, this is what it is all about," said the 30-year-old.
"The season is going very well and we are feeling the challenge, but I wouldn't want it any other way."
Ahead of this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix at the sun- and wind-swept Circuit de Catalunya, the Briton said he is enjoying a more innovative and technical approach to his racing this season.
"I feel very happy with how it has gone," he said.
"I left the last race thinking it has been a great couple of weeks. When you have a year like last year, to continue with it is not easy, but so far it has been better than last year.
"I am by no means in the clear, we have a long way to go and I know others are working very hard to close that gap so I need to stay on my toes, really continue to be innovative with the things I do on track and with my engineers to extract the most we possibly can.
"We arrive at the track every weekend and do the same thing, so (for me) it is trying to be innovative with the set-up, trying new things, new approaches, different techniques, all those different things.
"When it's driving against competitors, for example, it is not using the same patterns, it is coming out with new, fun, exciting ways of getting around the corner or attacking a driver, which is what I love -- and is probably why I love the sport more now than I have in the past."
AFP
