Lewis Hamilton was all smiles after winning in Abu Dhabi. (Photo: Getty Images)

“I think if I looked at the season and I didn’t win one Grand Prix, it could be a lot worse, couldn’t it? It’s not too bad, but it can always be better. As I said if I look back on this year whilst it’s not been a year where I’ve won the most Grands Prix or won the championship, it’s been the year where I’ve learned quite a bit.

“I think I will come out a stronger person. I can’t say that I’m there yet, but I think when I get to the winter when I reflect on the whole season I think I will be. I’m about to turn 27 [he did so on January 7] and I think I’m definitely a lot wiser than I was when I started this season, and that’s always a positive, because you move forward.”

Everyone has a view on why Lewis was off form. There’s no question that he was distracted by turbulence in his private life, and some of those close to him pointed to his preference for the Hollywood lifestyle as a negative. Late in the year Lewis admitted that he had looked at how Jenson approached his racing, pointing out that, always relaxed and surrounded by family and friends, saying that his countryman had built a ‘bubble’ around himself.

He cringed when I mentioned that bubble a couple of races later – he seemed to regret having use the word - but nevertheless his point had been well made.

“It’s about striking a balance. You can be too intense, and you can be not serious enough. It’s really trying to strike a balance. I’ve been racing since I was eight years old, and I still don’t have the right formula for it. Obviously the car has a big impact on that. Every year is a journey towards finding that solution, finding the right ingredients.

“Last winter I spent five or six hours a day, six days a week, training. It was so much work and so much dedication it was a bit too serious, I think. I’m still very fit now, even though I’ve had a year where I’ve not been training anywhere near as much.

Lewis Hamilton started on pole and finished second in Korea but seemed less than happy. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

“I think it’s about keeping the training up – maybe I can do less training, but more effective – and the most important bit is the time in between that you spend with family and friends, making sure I enjoy that more. That’s most important thing, that’s what gets your mind more ready and in better shape for the next season.”

There’s no doubt that at times in 2011 Hamilton’s relationship with his team became a little strained. Not surprisingly he was frustrated, especially in the winter tests, by the performance of the car. The team in turn was disappointed by his mistakes. Nevertheless, for the time being at least, they need each other.

“I have been with the team since I was 13-years-old. I think I have quite a unique relationship with the team and regardless of how tough a year it has been or how many problems we have had I stay very close to their hearts and I think the same with me. They continue to support me and it is great to see that when they are having tough times us as drivers, me and Jenson, are able to lift them and vice versa.”

Everything now depends on the car. There’s no doubt that Lewis has been continually disappointed by McLaren’s consistent failure to start the season with a truly competitive package. It’s always impressive if a team can close the gap as the year progresses, but it would be far better to be the hunted rather than the hunter.

“I think there are a lot of lessons we’ve learned,” he stressed. “Every year we try to arrive with a car that’s the best. Obviously we’ve struggled for the last couple of years. Since 2009 we have started better in 2010, and we kind of started better in 2011.

“I think we’ll take those experiences, and with next year’s car, we’ll start on the right track. And if we are able to start on the right track I think we have the strength to stay ahead and compete with anyone.”

But can Lewis himself find the mental strength with which to get on top of Button, and avoid the mistakes that plagued him last year? It’s going to be one of the most fascinating aspects of the coming season.

Adam Cooper notched up his 27th season as a racing journalist in 2011. He has written about F1 for SPEED.com since 2005. Follow him on Twitter.

The opinions reflected herein are solely those of the above commentator and are not necessarily those of SPEED.com, FOX, NewsCorp, or SPEED