Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff says he saw a different Lewis Hamilton racing in the final few races of 2018, a driver spurred on by his fifth world championship.
Hamilton sealed the title in Mexico, beating arch-rival Sebastian Vettel with two races left on the schedule.
However, contrary to previous instances, when the Brit failed to win in the races that immediately followed his crowning, the Mercedes driver concluded his campaign with a slam dunk in Brazil and Abu Dhabi, a feat that impressed Wolff.
"He has actually driven stronger after winning the drivers' title," explained the Austrian.
"I feel he is so embedded in the team, and integrated, that the drivers' title felt incomplete.
"For a driver it is really strange, because they are calibrated on a driver title, but he said it felt incomplete and we needed to seal the team title.
"When you look at his face, there was almost more relief and happiness about sealing the constructors' title than the first one.
"And that is why he just didn't take the foot off the throttle until the very end. That is somehow a new Lewis."
Hamilton said his will to shy away from any slackening after securing the title was about keeping his momentum strong for next season.
"I think this year it was being in a different place in my life," he said.
"I do want to continue to push the limits, push the boundaries and I wanted to finish the season on a solid high if I can.
"So that I can really continue to keep that foundation as strong as it has been this year, so I can use that to start on next year.
"I think in the past it was still good. It was no biggie that I didn't win after I won the championship but I'm definitely happy with how it's going this year."
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