Hamilton: 'I was robbed of being able to grow naturally'

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As he looks back on the early days of his career, Lewis Hamilton says that he endured a distorted youth as his commitment to racing took hold.

Groomed early on by his father Anthony Hamilton, the three-time world champion raced up the ladder from karting through the junior categories, backed by the patronage of McLaren and Ron Dennis.

But success at the pinnacle of motor sport has come with many personal tradeoffs, Hamilton told Men's Health Australia.

"I was robbed of being able to grow naturally," said the Mercedes driver.

"I didn’t get to hang out with my friends — it was always racing, always business, always serious."

Hamilton was pushed to the edge physically on Sunday

In the interview, Hamilton criticized the sport's need to format drivers to its sanitized image, and defended his glitzy jet-set life-style which takes nothing away from his dedication and drive he insisted.

"You have to be a square and fit into a box — and the shape is ‘boring as f***," said the 32-year-old.

"Don’t do anything but live and breathe racing. Don’t enjoy, don’t smile.

"I don’t believe I have a playboy life. I’m no less focused than any of my peers. They live a different life. They go home and are not pictured at events.

"I train just as much as them — maybe more. But I do this other stuff. I have so much energy. I train, I travel, I’m learning about music and fashion, reading a lot. I just want to experience everything.

"If I can be in the studio with Jay Z, with Pharrell, am I going to do it? S*** yeah. I like to be around greatness.

"I could easily stop. I’ve accomplished more than I ever dreamed. But I’m still hungry."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.