Hamilton reveals personal F1 design change he should have 'copywrited'

Lewis Hamilton says he once tapped into his creativity to alter the design of a fundamental component in F1, a change that has since become widespread in the sport.

Hamilton graduated to Formula 1 in 2007 with McLaren, the Briton enjoying a run of five consecutive top-three finishes before he won his maiden Grand Prix in Canada.

While making his mark by showcasing his outstanding skills and talent, the Briton also worked closely with his engineers at McLaren to tweak his car's ergonomics to his liking.

And one element on which he focused his attention was the steering wheel of his MP4-22.

"What a lot of people don’t actually know is that I re-designed the steering wheel when I was at McLaren," he revealed to CNA Luxury.

"And when I came to Mercedes, I did the same thing, and the other teams have all copied the wheel.

"All the old wheels used to be circular. Now, you’ll see there’s a top and the handle comes down and it doesn’t join at the bottom.

"I should have copyrighted it! This is something I’m really proud of; I really love working on the ergonomics of the car."

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• Hamilton: 'I plan on staying with Mercedes for the rest of my life'

But his car's all-important steering wheel wasn't the only component that got a Hamilton makeover

"I also designed the seat for my cockpit," he added. "I filed it down and it’s been pretty much the same seat for 10 years with the team. We also redesigned the pedals with the engineers.

"Those are the things I love to do, as it allows me to tap into a bit of creativity."

It's been a difficult year for the seven-time F1 world champion, his most difficult campaign to date in Formula 1 and which could end without the 37-year-old winning a single race for the very first time.

But Hamilton's lack of success hasn't eroded his motivation or energy. However, only time will tell how far he will extend his F1 career.

"I’ve spoken to a lot of amazing athletes over time that have been in competition towards the end of their careers, and also ones who are retired," he said, addressing the future.

"Many said that they stopped too early or too late. Most said you will know when the time is right.

"But because we’re so single-minded [as racing drivers] and so focused on being the best we can be, we usually lack the time to do other things.

"So when an athlete does retire, it’s like the whole world comes to a stop. So I’m trying to put these things in place so that it’s a very easy transition for me afterwards."

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