As in 2007, Lewis Hamilton is still a title protagonist, but the McLaren driver insists he is more focused on winning the championship this year.

Then a rookie, the McLaren driver entered the final phase of last year's contest with a points advantage, but errors opened the door for Kimi Raikkonen to snatch an unlikely crown.

"Last year I wasn't focused on the championship," Hamilton, 23, told reporters at Spa-Francorchamps on Thursday.

"I was so happy to be here. It was all very overwhelming for me. I was living the dream.

"This year I'm a fully-fledged formula one driver and I am here to win the championship, and whatever that takes," he said.

Hamilton, with a 6 point advantage over Ferrari's Felipe Massa, suggests the practical difference between his approach this year compared to 2007 is his focus now on the bigger picture rather than individual grands prix.

"That means scoring points and staying out in front, so I have to make sure I finish the remaining six races with as many points as possible," he explained.

Source: GMM