Danke to Planet F1 for the link.

Asked whether there was some relief that he wasn’t racing for McLaren at this time, Hamilton said: “No, I don’t look at them and think I’m happier.

“I look at our performance and realise just how good of a choice it was obviously.

When you hate me, it gives me power.

“The team have made some fantastic steps forward… let’s hope that this car stays competitive through the year and we can continue to develop it.”

Hamilton insisted that McLaren will recover from their Australian slump which he billed as a “little blip” for the Woking outfit.

“They have always been very strong at catching up… I feel that this is only a small little blip in their journey this year. I’m sure they’ll catch up.”

HAM: I’m completely obsessed with their failure. If I didn’t look at them as a reference, I wouldn’t be able to realize that I’m happier or know that we’re performing better. They’ve always been very strong at catching up, except, um, last year, when they were sabotaging me and I was sabotaging them and none of us would acknowledge it. I’m sure they’ll catch up. No, I’m not taunting them. I’m being supportive. Supportive to my old team. Whom I don’t look at.

I operate on higher plane of existence where I’m throwing a ball for Roscoe and Nicole is blowing me while I accept holy communion from my priest/agent.

Bless.