Lewis Hamilton on his freedom and the 'Godfather'

Lewis Hamilton does enjoy not having Ron Dennis breathe down his neck.

Mercedes driver, Lewis Hamilton, says he’s ‘his own man’ now after quitting Mclaren last year. The Brit ended a 10-year long stint in the Surrey-based team who nurturer him ever since he was a kid. He goes on to speak about Ron Dennis, his mentor and the Mclaren supremo.

“At McLaren, Ron is the Godfather. Naturally there does come that power. I don’t know if it’s about fear but there were definitely parallels,” Hamilton told The Daily Mirror.

“I have been in a very controlled environment since I can remember and it’s not until the last couple of years that I’ve come out of that control.

“No one controls me now. I’m able to be my own man. Obviously I’ve got bosses at Mercedes in Ross Brawn, Toto Wolff and Niki Lauda.

“I make decisions I want to make now. I’m my own man and that’s what I always wanted.

“I’m happier now. I can do things and I don’t have to report to anyone.“

Having been criticed by many over his move to a ‘lower’ team, Hamilton has made it clear that he wanted this move and that he likes the challenge of being in a new environment.

“I think there was a point where I weighed up the options and they were both good options but one was slightly riskier than the other and I wanted to try it,” said Hamilton.

“It’s a little bit like when you leave home. In fact a bit more extreme than that. Taking that leap. If I stayed, I would remain in that environment I’m used to my whole life.

“I would stay with people I’d known my whole life. I’d have been protected. If I go the other way it’s all brand new.

“I have to make the best use of it all, build those relationships, grab it with both hands, no time to mess around.

“There’s no time for mistakes. It’s all on me.“

The former World Champion now heads to Barcelona to take part in the Spanish Grand Prix which acts as the red carpet to the European session of the Formula 1 calendar.