Lewis Hamilton has confident open in his step

Kevin Eason, Motor Racing Correspondent, Melbourne & , : {}

He arrived fresh from watching his girlfriend getting top marks from the judges for her waltz, but it did not take long for memories to be stirred of Lewis Hamiltons descent from hero to zero in Australia.

A year ago Hamilton was tap-dancing in front of the Australian Grand Prix stewards, trying to spin a story that led to yet another Formula One scandal. He escaped punishment for his role in Liargate but the public judgment was enough to make the youngster think seriously about whether he wanted to remain part of the Formula One show.

But what a difference a year makes as Hamilton stood under blue skies yesterday and enjoyed his renewed romance with Nicole Scherzinger, the Pussycat Doll pop star who is starring in Americas version of Strictly Come Dancing, and with his sport.

Far from dodging questions about Liargate triggered when he followed instructions from his team to say that he was passed by Jarno Trullis Toyota under a safety car he confronted his tainted past and embraced the experience in a show of honesty and maturity that underlines his transition from boy to man.

Related LinksDi Resta dips his toe in uncharted watersButton offers help after bore in BahrainButton expects F1 season to hot up

I dont look at last years experience as a bad one, the 25-year-old said. I look at it as a stepping stone in my life and something I learnt a whole lot from 2009 was a tough year altogether.

Getting results from a McLaren that was as dodgy as Hamiltons story to the stewards proved the making of a driver who had never before had to struggle with bad machinery.

But that was just part of the transition as one relationship was revived, another terminated. Anthony, his father, is no longer his manager and Scherzinger, whom Hamilton broke up with briefly last year, is back on the scene, although their long- distance relationship is racking up enough air miles for Hamilton to be able to own an airline soon.

In the past ten days he has flown from the last grand prix in Bahrain to the US to support Scherzinger, back to Britain for a McLaren car launch, out to the US again to see Scherzinger perform, then straight to Sydney for a public-relations event and finally to Melbourne last night.

Hamilton seems to be enjoying it, his smile as wide as ever yesterday and optimistic that McLaren will be back on the pace on Sunday. He won here in 2008 and finished fourth last year after starting at the back of the grid. Jenson Button, his new team-mate, took the honours last year for Brawn GP and the vibes that one of them can prevail again are strong.

This circuit should work to the strengths of our car and we feel stronger coming into this race, Hamilton said. Weve learnt a lot from the first race and we can bring that here to Melbourne.

That learning curve has been matched by Hamiltons ability to absorb the lessons of life that were dispensed by Formula Ones judges after this grand prix last year. But this weekend the only dancing Hamilton will want to do will be a victory jig.