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Hamilton living life to the full after F1 title win
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-11-07 09:56 LONDON - If Lewis Hamilton was grinning all the way to the bank before he became Formula One's youngest champion, he is now smiling in his sleep as well. The 23-year-old McLaren driver said on Thursday that he could not be happier with life since he won the title in Brazil on Sunday.
Denying reports that he had become engaged to his glamorous American girlfriend, Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger, Hamilton left no doubt that he was enjoying the considerable rewards of his success. "I definitely sleep with a bigger smile on my face," the Briton told reporters at a promotion for McLaren team sponsors Vodafone. "My life is progressing and getting better and I'm enjoying it more and more every day. I couldn't be happier." Hamilton revealed that he had wasted no time in taking Scherzinger on a night-time jaunt around Stevenage, the town outside London where he grew up and where the local council have plans to name a road after him. "I have been back there just to see where it all started," said the Briton, heavily criticised before the season started when he said he was moving to Switzerland to avoid public attention rather than the more obvious tax reasons. "We went for a quick cruise, probably it was around half an hour drive through Stevenage...past my old church, past my old school and past my house and then off to the cinema and then for a roast dinner that night. "It was very special for me. I'm pretty sure no one expected me to be around and that's why we probably didn't get seen," said Hamilton. The youngster tipped to become Britain's highest-earning sportsman made it clear he would not be going back on his decision to live abroad. "I'm not going to say I miss living here. My family and team are here and every once in a while I do get the chance to come back and visit the place," he said. "But I'm happy where I am. "I don't know what the future holds for me or where I plan to live. I love being in the United States, being around in Europe and I love Australia. "I don't know where I am going to be in 10 years time, but one thing's for sure -- this is where I grew up and Britain will always be home." Ferrari's former champion Kimi Raikkonen and Renault's Fernando Alonso were criticised in the past by Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone for not doing enough to promote the sport and Hamilton recognised it would be hard for him to lead a normal life now. "As world champion I guess you pick up a lot more responsibility. So I can expect it to be busier," he said. "Keeping a low profile is a great thing. You get to live your life, have such a busy season and then quieten down a little bit. "But I expect it to be busy. If it's quiet, that will be a bonus." |
