PARIS, March 10, 2008 (AFP) - Life in the fast lane has never been dull for Lewis Hamilton.

In his debut Formula One season, he saw more than most of his rivals will ever experience in their careers - espionage, court cases, record financial penalties and egos running rampant.

No wonder the down-to-earth British driver is confidently expecting a smoother ride in 2008.

"Perhaps there is more pressure but I feel there is less," said the 23-year-old who won four races in 2007 after racking up nine podium finishes before he was agonisingly pipped for the title by just one point.

"Last year I had so much to prove. There was the press asking 'can he do it or not?' I'm sure even people in the team were wondering.

"I think this year is slightly easier. People know how well I can drive. I'm not going into an unknown world. I don't have any doubts that I will do a job this year but that means something different now. It means I want to win the world championship."

Hamilton, in his McLaren, is joint-favourite to win the title in 2008 along with Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen who snatched the crown right at the death last year in the final race in Brazil.

He will also begin the season, which kicks off in Melbourne on Sunday, as his team's number one, which was a high-profile bone of contention in 2007.

Double world champion Fernando Alonso saw his perceived position as McLaren's top dog steadily eroded by Hamilton's youthful exuberance.

By the midway point, the sulking Spaniard and his teammate were barely on speaking terms; by the end, Alonso had agreed to return to Renault, the team which had delivered his titles in 2005 and 2006.

Hamilton has seen his blistering debut handsomely rewarded.

He has signed a new five-year deal with McLaren worth an estimated 10 million pounds a year - a huge sum for a team which was relieved of 50 million pounds for its role in the seemingly endless 'Spygate' scandal which saw them stripped of all its constructors points in 2007.

"Lewis is an exceptional human being, on both a personal and professional level, and will continue to be a credit to this team," said team principal Ron Dennis who has overseen the driver's career ever since karting days.

Hamilton's income is a far cry from his roots.

The grandson of Caribbean immigrants, Hamilton's father Anthony, who accompanies his son to every race and acts as his manager, once held down three jobs to fund his son's racimg dreams.

They are a close-knit duo; Hamilton's parents separated when he was just two years old.

Furthermore, the McLaren star is widely admired for his perspective on his professional and his private life with a half-brother Nicholas who suffers from cerebral palsy.

"I think we've always tried to bring Lewis up to do things right and to understand that positive consequences flow from taking an honest approach to things," said Anthony.