Mercedes had 'bullet-proof' plan in 2017 - Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton has revealed that Mercedes had a bullet-proof plan to claim their fourth team world championship in a row in 2017, and believes that the success ultimately came from a renewed belief in each member of the team as well as a rejuvenated energy within the Silver Arrows squad.

Hamilton was involved in an ongoing feud with Sebastian Vettel for the driver's championship this campaign and ultimately came out on top against the German, meaning that Mercedes claimed the championship double.

The Englishman has spoken of the positive atmosphere within the Mercedes team in 2017.

"I would say I was more assured of myself this year,” Hamilton told Sky Sports.

“I think that comes from a lot of different things: getting older, confidence in your work ethic, relationships with the guys you're working with.

"We had a bullet-proof plan and structure of how we were doing things, a new resurfaced positive energy in the team that hadn't been there for a while.

“Plus we were fighting another team so we were super encouraged to go that extra distance."

Hamilton knew he was going to be up against it this year opposing Ferrari, with Vettel leading the way as a four-time world champion.

“I also knew what I was working with and there was no doubt in my mind about the impact it would have, the significance of beating a four-time world champion and Ferrari in the heat of this kind of battle," he continued.

"My whole mindset was there's a four-time world champion we're competing against.

“There's no-one else in my view or in my mirrors, it's just him and it's going to take everything to extract everything from the car weekend in, weekend out.

“If I don't he will and also he's going to be consistent because he's a four-time world champion so I've got to be even better and try to raise the bar every time.