Hamilton has "zero concern" about end-of-season form
Lewis Hamilton is not concerned about having failed to win the last two races of the 2017 Formula 1 season, despite his eagerness to avoid a repeat of his late 2015 slump.
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After clinching this year's title in Mexico, Hamilton acknowledged that he'd relaxed too much in a similar situation at the end of 2015, allowing then teammate Nico Rosberg to take a series of end-of-season wins that helped to set up the German's successful title challenge the following year.
This time around after winning the title, Hamilton crashed in qualifying in Brazil, and then lost pole to teammate Valtteri Bottas in Abu Dhabi, where the race was effectively decided at the first corner.
Hamilton admitted that his extended title celebrations might have compromised his preparation, but insisted that it was not an issue.
"There's zero concern," he said. "I think it's clear that something happens once you've won the championship.
"And all I can say is the week after I won the championship I partied a lot, with my family, and celebrated, and that's what you do. I can tell you that before all the other races that was not the case.
"So sleep, energy has definitely been different on these last couple of races. But nonetheless I still tried to approach them the same. But if you don't prepare the same, there's no way.
"So I'm not bothered about that. And next year that will go back to how it was in the second half of the season."
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said it would be wrong to compare this year's scenario with 2015.
"I don't think so," said Wolff. "[Hamilton] is somebody that is very diligent in progressing and learning. I don't think 2015 has happened.
"He had an accident in qualifying, that happened after he'd won the championship. And where that came from, I don't know.
"These guys are pushing the cars to the limit, and he didn't make a mistake, he didn't put a foot wrong all season, and it happened in Interlagos. I'd rather it happened after having won the championship than before.
"And here he looked very good until qualifying, and then Valtteri just put it all together. And I think you just have to acknowledge this was Valtteri's weekend."
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