Lewis Hamilton says he now feels happier in his life than at the beginning of his F1 career, when he felt 'tied up' in his racing universe.
The Mercedes driver secured his fourth world title in Mexico, with three championship rounds to go. But his sporting success at Mercedes has also spawned a personal development and a sense of happiness which rarely prevailed during his early years as a Grand Prix driver.
"When I think of how I felt years ago, I imagine being tied up and unable to move," he told Italian magazine Sportweek.
"It was enough for me to be in F1 and I told myself it was the best job in the world. But outside the car I didn't feel right, I didn't feel complete," Hamilton said.
"I was only using 10 per cent of my potential."
Hamilton admits his switch at the end of 2012 from the sanitized and highly regulated environment at McLaren to Mercedes' less restricted and confined organization played a huge part in his personal development.
He is now free to jet all over the world and mingle with the rich and famous while enjoying the freedom to commit to interests outside the world of Formula 1.
"We often forget that we don't live forever and that life is short," Hamilton insisted.
"And I don't like to waste a minute. I'm scared I will miss something, so I make my days very long."
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