Title leader begins summer break in Barbados after German GP win
Wednesday 3 August 2016 20:45, UK
Lewis Hamilton has explained why he likes to stay busy during F1's summer break - but says he will never allow his focus on his title-winning goals to slip.
The reigning world champion and 2016 title leader has headed to Barbados following his victory in last weekend's German GP, with drivers not back in action for three more weeks until the Belgian GP at Spa.
Since 2009, teams have had to shut down their factories for a fortnight during August on cost-saving grounds, with the break in races considered invaluable given the calendar has since expanded to a record 21 races.
And Hamilton, who described last summer as "the best break I've ever had" after spending time in the Caribbean and North America, has underlined the importance of the downtime and striking the right balance between travelling and training.
"It's just as important as the whole year to be honest," he said in a sit-down interview with select journalists.
"I like keeping busy. There's been breaks where I've just been exhausted after the break because I've just done a lot and done the training and just done too much. But it generally goes relatively quick.
"The last one was just amazing because I was around good people, I got the training in but it wasn't my priority, and it was just enjoying wherever I was.
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"I was buzzing when I came back. Each year you try to do different things, you want to see the world and do different things without losing focus on the ultimate goal, which is winning the championship."
Despite receiving criticism over the extent of his transatlantic travelling between races, Hamilton's recent record after the summer break is unmatched.
In 2014, he won six of the final eight races to overturn a points deficit to Nico Rosberg and claim the world title at the final round in Abu Dhabi, while last year he won five of the next six as he clinched the crown with three rounds to spare in Austin.
Hamilton headed into this year's recess 19 points ahead of Rosberg in the standings.
"I think last year again, being 30, I was in the first year of the best years of my life really," he added. "They say that don't they?
"And my thirties so far have been my best, really enjoyed them and I think that's just part of me being mature and knowing what I want."
Don't miss the F1 Report: German GP review and half-term report on Wednesday at 8.30pm on Sky F1 with Natalie Pinkham, Marc Priestley and Mike Gascoyne
