Hamilton: Negativity for me is like the devil

Speaking to media in the wake of what at first was a nail-biting season that in the end turned into a canter, Hamilton wore his heart on his sleeve as he reflected on the 2018 season, in which many believe he was at his very best.

The stats speak for themselves: in 19 starts he scored 358 points, 14 podiums of which nine were wins and nine times he started from pole. The 2018 world title wrapped up with two rounds remaining.

The Mercedes driver started by acknowledging, "It's been an incredible season - mentally and physically, for everyone in the team."

"On the drivers' side, the mental side has been the key. Ferrari were so strong at certain points of the year - particularly in the first half of the season - we didn't know how it was going to end."

"But the best parts of the season have been when we've been on the back foot and it's not looked great - but we managed to claw our way back and collectively do a better job overall [than] their team and their driver. That's really what's made the difference this year, which is something the whole team can be really proud of."

There were some big moments in this season that could be attributed to the downfall of his title rival Sebastian Vettel. Mistakes made by the German and his team were plentiful, thus pinpointing one particular turning point is hard.

For sure Vettel's brain fade at Hockenheim, where he threw away the lead while leading comfortably perhaps started the rot in the Ferrari camp, but Hamilton believes the thumping his team gave the Reds on their home soil, in front of their adoring fans at Monza was the key moment in the campaign.

"That was probably the biggest psychological blow," agreed Hamilton, before adding, "They'd had a couple - Seb's psychologically difficult time when he made a personal mistake [in Germany]."

"As a driver, when the team makes a mistake, it's painful, but when it's you, when it's in your control, that's a horrible feeling. He would have taken that to heart.

"Then we had that fight at Monza. That would have been a team blow for them. But we didn't get complacent after that great result for us. We knew we still had to execute, going to places like Singapore where Ferrari usually destroy us. And what a weekend it was."

"None of us predicted that we would've won in Hockenheim or Monza or particularly Singapore. Collectively we've done an amazing job in this team."

Now that the business has been done, Hamilton delved deeper into how he mustered up his inner 'firepower' to take his game to another level revealing his inner spiritualism, "I don't pray to win, I don't pray for fortune."

"I always just ask - whether you're talking to yourself or someone's hearing you - but: I want to be able to live to my potential today. Allow me to live to my potential today. I know I can be great but certain things get in the way and you're not always able to be great. Just allow me to run free.'"

After powering from 14th on the grid at Hockenheim to claim victory when local hero Vettel drove straight into the barriers while leading comfortable, Hamilton was met by a chorus of boos when he stood on the podium celebrating an unlikely win.

He recalled, "In Hockenheim, there was so much negativity. For me, that's like the devil. Let me shine on this and turn that darkness - that booing, which is all dark. "

"For me, the sun was shining even though it was raining," explained Hamilton of the thunderstorm that followed the podium ceremony that afternoon. "For me, that felt biblical, if you knew the stuff that I'd said in my prayer - and it was not predictable."

"Those things I had asked to work against. I didn't ask for the rain at the end of the race. That was almost like… if you ever asked for a sign of something, that was a sign."

In terms of top honours, the season was all about Hamilton versus Vettel, and although the Ferrari driver started the season with his tail high and when he returned from the summer break with victory at the Belgian Grand Prix, it was game on.

But that was it from the German as Hamilton went on to win four races in a row which ultimately was enough for him to pick up minor places to claim the title.

Did he own Vettel this year?

"I never ever think: I own you, I don't use that mentality. But if you imagine, erm, look at [Floyd] Mayweather as he goes into the ring. I don't think I've ever seen him not look like he knows he's going to win. Even if the opponent is taller or whatever."

"It's the same when I look at different athletes and I'm wondering what's the difference between them and how they are not nervous because they know what the other person may or may not do."

"But when I came out behind, I know where his strengths are, I know where his weaknesses are and I know where I'm better. So it's game on. I'm like: Let's dance. You might get the better of me but I know how to get by you," added Hamilton.