Hamilton close to appointing manager

Asked whether the new manager would come from within the Formula 1 paddock, the 26-year-old answered: "Well I have a couple of candidates and I am just trying to decide which one. I'll let you know when I decide."

"I'm hoping that in the next couple of weeks I will be able to let you know what is going on," he added. "It is going to be positive and it won't distract me from my job and just certain things will be taken care of a lot better than when I was looking after myself!"

Hamilton added that he also expected to see more of his father in the paddock again in 2011, with Hamilton Sr representing Force India driver Paul di Resta's interests.

"Well he [Anthony] has done a fantastic job to get Paul [di Resta] in and clearly he is very gifted at getting drives for Paul, which is fantastic," said Hamilton. "[My dad] is going to be coming to work and support Paul but obviously he is my dad, so naturally he will be up and down [the pitlane], but things are going very well with him."

Just as McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh indicated to AUTOSPORT recently, Hamilton says he is a much happier place following the trials of last year and is looking forward to the 2011 with renewed vigour.

"I think I just feel that things in my life are much better now and that I feel in a much better place," he said. "I am able to focus even more energy than I have in the past to winning and that feels great. It's great to be here and I am happy in my life, as I was at certain points of last year.

"But I think every year I always approach the same but sometimes your training doesn't go as well, or you are more drained by appearances that you do, or certain things that you do.

"This year it has been a lot clearer and the training has been a lot better and more efficient. I'm feeling a lot better about the car and I always want it more. You can never want it enough!"