F1: Hamilton strengthened by 2016 adversity

Lewis Hamilton believes suffering from a number of reliability issues and eventually losing out on the world championship has strengthened the bond between him and his mechanics.

The Mercedes driver was unhappy about key team members being switched between his and Nico Rosberg's cars in 2016 as Toto Wolff attempted to avoid a clear divide forming in the garage. Hamilton struggled at the start of the season – affected by reliability problems – but fought back to win 10 races before eventually losing out on the championship by just five points. The 31-year-old has warned he doesn't want a change in personnel to occur again next season, and sees the progress he made with his team as one of his strengths this year.

"I don't look back but generally I like to take the positives, while the negatives are things to learn from," Hamilton said. "I came out with more wins and more poles than anyone, which is great. It was an incredibly successful year for the team, so I would say apart from the growth I've had as a driver, the bond I've built with my guys is something that really strengthens me going into next year."

Having been the defending champion in 2016, Hamilton goes into next season in a different situation with Rosberg not racing. However, the three-time world champion insists he has never taken differing approaches to a season depending on how the previous year has gone.

"To be honest, I don't find it any different. It's the same each year. I reset, and I'm chasing. This year I don't feel like I was defending, I was chasing for the title. It doesn't feel any different and it's definitely not harder. I find it the same."

With Rosberg retiring, Hamilton says the pair actually enjoyed a less fractious relationship during their final season together despite major incidents that saw them collide in both Spain and Austria.

"I think this year has probably been the best. We've generally kept to ourselves and done our job. Obviously apart from Austria and Barcelona we haven't had any other real issues and it has been generally straightforward.

"We'll rarely see each other moving forward, I imagine. Even living in the same building we hardly ever see each other – we're in two different blocks, so I don't really see much changing."