Lewis Hamilton believes he is a more mature driver than he was at this stage last season as he looks to move another step closer to securing the world championship at the Japanese Grand Prix this weekend.
The 23-year-old McLaren star leads the driver standings by seven points with three races remaining this season.
Hamilton was victorious on an appallingly wet Fuji Speedway circuit last year to take a 12-point lead over then team-mate Fernando Alonso into the final two races.
However, he managed to collect just two more points - crashing out in China before finishing seventh in Brazil - allowing Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen to overturn a 17-point gap and capture the title.
"Last year I was a little younger and excited by the fact I had just arrived in Formula One and so much was going on," said Hamilton.
"I was leading [the championship] here but I didn't really understand the magnitude of the situation I was in and what was around me and the pressure that was on my shoulders. I dealt with it the best I could, but it wasn't the best.
"But I learned from those mistakes and I have come this year and I've taken a big step in my life as a grown up while as a driver I have matured and worked as hard as I can to improve in all areas."
Hamilton's closest rival in the race for the world championship is Ferrari's Felipe Massa but, with 30 points still at stake, BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica and defending champion Raikkonen are still mathematically in the hunt.
The duo are 20 and 27 points behind Hamilton respectively and consequently the 23-year-old is refusing to take anything for granted in the final three races.
"At this stage of the season I feel a lot stronger than I did last year in both my state of mind and my fitness," added Hamilton. "I was so exhausted last year.
"The way I see it a lot of drivers are challenging for the championship. There are 30 points available so he (Raikkonen) can still do it.
"I can't take it for granted as there are lots of points available."
Massa, meanwhile, insists he will push Hamilton right to the end as the Brazilian looks to make up for his disappointment in Singapore.
The 27-year-old failed to finish in the points after a pit-stop blunder but insists he will do everything to ensure there are no mistakes in the final three races.
"We are seven points behind and we still have a chance. It is a little bit less than we were supposed to have but we are strong and we can win," he said.
"We are a team and are working strongly to try to win again and win the championship.
"We need to try do everything right. We need to have a good car as that is the most important thing in trying to win races or finish with more points than your competitor.
"At this stage, with three races to go mistakes are not a good idea so we will try to get everything right."
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