Optimism high as Hamilton tries to stay alongside his main rivals

Winners are supposed to talk with a confidence bordering on arrogance.

They need to be brash, knowledgable in the art of sporting rhetoric and cliches, and dismissive of opponents.

So when Lewis Hamilton, the 2008 world champion and one of the most single-minded sporting individuals this country has produced, talks down the prospects of himself and the most recognisable marque in British Formula 1 history, McLaren, this season, it comes as quite a surprise.

Hamilton’s fears stem from their lack of speed last year as measured against runaway pace-setters Red Bull, and their lack of progress in narrowing the gap during the winter.

The overall picture is more telling. For all their resources, all their technological acumen, all their intrinsic attention to detail, McLaren have won only one piece of silverware in 11 years.

That solitary trophy was captured by Hamilton three seasons ago, and even then it almost slipped through the team’s grasp as it was won at the final corner of the last lap of the last race of the season.

Of course, there have been many near misses – and they were stripped of all their constructors’ points in 2007 over the ‘spy-gate’ affair when they would have won that particular crown that year.

But put into context, over the same time frame, bitter rivals Ferrari have lifted 13 trophies, Renault four, and even Brawn GP and Red Bull Racing have two apiece thanks to their double triumphs over the last two years.

And a fan only has to listen to Hamilton recently to appreciate it could be another tough year.

“We can’t hide the fact that testing has been tougher than we expected,” said Hamilton, 26.

“Our test mileage hasn’t been as high as our rivals, nor have we had the outright pace of the fastest cars.

“Still, I have a good feeling with the car, and I understand we’ll be making further performance steps ahead of this opening race.

“Nevertheless, we know we arrive in Melbourne ready for battle. Some teams are extremely well prepared, both from a pace and reliability point of view.

“But that can sometimes count for little in the unpredictable and somewhat chaotic opening races where it’s equally vital just to take points home.

“I strongly believe that, while our preparations haven’t gone as smoothly as we’d have liked, we arrive in Melbourne with everything finally meshing together – and that makes me really excited.”

He has also said of the car in the build-up to the season: “This car is closer to the 2009 car in the sense of downforce.

“The 2009 car was terrible as it was hopping, three-wheeling through corners, locking up, and it had no downforce.

“This car doesn’t lock up, it doesn’t three-wheel, and it handles really nice, better than last year’s car, but it just doesn’t have as much downforce.

“Because the regulations have changed, it’s a similar downforce level to 2009. We have a little more, but it’s not far off, so it feels weak in that area.”

Such was Hamilton’s frustration during testing there were rumours that he would leave behind him a team that has been nurturing his talent since his early teens, to fulfil his ambition with a rival.

But as the disappointment was quelled and the anticipation built in Melbourne this week, Hamilton moved quickly to quash those rumours.

He sought out Martin Whitmarsh, the McLaren team principal, and confirmed his commitment to the cause.

“I’ve spoken to Martin because I wanted to reassure him that I am here at McLaren, that I am committed to the team, committed to winning,” Hamilton said.

“This is where my heart and mind are. I’m not thinking about going elsewhere, I don’t have my people (management team) going elsewhere and doing any other talking.

“I try and put myself in other people’s positions, to understand how they would feel. I think that’s important. I can imagine how I would feel if I heard stories that they were looking for another driver to replace me, it would be upsetting and distracting, and I kind of assume that may have been the case.

“So I wanted to make sure I put that right, and that’s why I spoke with Martin. Of course, I’m going to be in Formula 1 for some time, and you never know which way the wind will take you.

“As I said, for now, I’m committed to trying to make this team the most successful it can be, and I feel we can do that.”

That is more like the Hamilton we know. Confident, determined, unequivocal.

With his faith restored, he can now go about talking about his ambitions in Formula 1, that many believed when he first burst onto the scene in 2007 would have been fulfilled by now.

“I have every belief in my heart that I can win many, many more world championships,” continued Hamilton.

“I have no number set of how many I want to win. The sky is the limit. As many as I can get in the period of time I’m here.

“If you look at Sebastien Loeb (World Rally), Valentino Rossi (MotoGP) and Michael Schumacher, these are legendary racers from their different classes, and I’d love to be a part of that.

“I wouldn’t rule it out, but I’m not saying eight is what I want.”

Hamilton does at least have a particular number in mind that would make him happy, a feat that would mirror the achievement of his all-time hero.

“I’ve always wanted to win three world championships, like Ayrton Senna. I’ve always wanted to emulate what he did,” said Hamilton.

“But winning a second world championship is hard enough, so we’ll focus on that for now.”

Hamilton just hopes he has a car to match his ambitions.

Despite their problems, McLaren’s British duo of Hamilton and Jenson Button are expected to be in the middle of a five-way fight for the world title.

Red Bull will again be the team to catch with Sebastian Vettel the defending world champion and a man not likely to take his foot off the gas.

Mark Webber will no doubt still be wearing a chip on his shoulder from last season, when without actually being told by his team, he was pretty much considered Red Bull’s No 2 driver.

And then there is Fernando Alonso of Ferrari. A controversial winner of the German Grand Prix last year that led to the lifting of the ban on team orders, such was the difficulty in policing it, the 2010 title was his to win last year until Vettel nosed the chequered flag with his late surge.

The passionate Spaniard is as quick as anyone and Ferrari have tested well this winter.

But back to Hamilton, for a return to his reassuring confidence.

“As an athlete, as a competitor, optimism is something you have to hold. You always have to have that,” he said.

“I’m never one to give up. I’m ready, and when the car is ready I will be at the front and I will win races.

“Just because we don’t have a winning car right now, that doesn’t mean it won’t become a world championship-winning car.”