LONDON: Lewis Hamilton will be pushing McLaren harder than ever over the next few months to make sure he does not have to endure another 'character-building' season like the one just finished.

The 2008 world champion started the Formula One campaign with a disqualification, battered by a storm over lying to stewards in Australia and struggling with a car that was painfully off the pace.

He ended it in Abu Dhabi on Sunday with the first mechanical retirement of his career after leading from pole position, but with everything to look forward to.

The 24-year-old Briton was fifth overall in the standings, with two race wins and five podium finishes.

In adversity, the sport's youngest champion grew stronger and wiser and now he wants his title back from compatriot Jenson Button.

"I'm pushing my team harder than they've ever been pushed, so they are all on the edge," said Hamilton, sitting down with a small group of reporters in Abu Dhabi last weekend.

"We're all pushing each other trying to make sure we leave no stone unturned because we want to arrive (at the 2010 season-opener in Bahrain next March) with a chance of winning the race rather than this year where we were dead last.

"We've obviously learned so much from this experience, and hopefully it won't happen again."

HARD YEAR

The first scheduled pre-season test is in February and Hamilton said he would be in the car "as much as they will give me" but otherwise would keep a close eye on developments.

"I'm always in touch with my engineers, asking if certain parts have been developed, have they maximised this or that, why is this, why is that?

"I like to know, and right now I could tell you quite a lot about my new car and why they've chosen this material, why we are going this way and not that way. I always ask a lot of questions."

Despite the shock of lining up as a world champion without the equipment to defend his title, Hamilton said the season had been fantastic.

Embarking on only his third year in Formula One, he was on the back foot for the first time and had to lower his expectations while newcomers Brawn and Red Bull turned the pecking order on its head.