Proud Hamilton expects a tough season ahead

Stuttgart - Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton expects next season's title race to be as difficult as this year's one. The 23-year-old Briton managed to overtake Germany's Timo Glock on the final bend on the final lap of the Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday to move to fifth place, thereby winning the title by one point from race winner Ferrari's Felipe Massa. Speaking at the traditional Stars&Cars function in Stuttgart on Saturday - Hamilton greeted the 65,000 racing enthusiasts in German - the McLaren-Mercedes driver said that he will obviously try to repeat his success. 'But I am certain that it will be as difficult next year,' he said, adding that 'I am proud of all the things I have managed to do.' Mercedes' motorsport director Norbert Haug said that the team deserved the title at this time after Hamilton lost out by one point in 2007. 'It will serve us very well,' said Haug, with Daimler chairman of the board Dieter Zetsche sharing this view for the whole company. 'Lewis, you have managed to turn the silver arrow into a golden one,' Zetsche said. At the function Hamilton saw footage of the dramatic race finale for the first time. 'I did not want to see the pictures. I was even scared to relive these moments. They were so intensive. My heart nearly exploded as I was sitting in the cockpit. 'It would have been great to win the final race, but there was a bigger goal,' he said of the most difficult race of his two-year Formula One career. At age 23 years, 9 months and 26 days, Hamilton became the youngest-ever world champion. Hamilton, who has not had a moment of rest since winning the title, said he was now looking forward to some quiet time. 'I was already exhausted last year without winning the title. I have not had any holidays and now I need to have some time for myself to be at my best next season.' Zetsche admitted that during the race he was scared of a repeat of last year's final race, when he also had a seven-point lead but lost out by one point to Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen. 'Again, the race was crazy, but this time we had a happy end,' Zetsche said. Haug said that the team had already started preparations for next season. 'We will not sit back on our laurels,' he promised. He added that the team wanted to win both titles next season after their main rivals Ferrari won the constructors' championship as McLaren's second driver Heikki Kovalainen picked up too few points in finishing seventh in the standings. 'I think I will be much better next year,' vowed Kovalainen.