LONDON (AFP) — England's 2008 Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton is keen to avoid last season's pitfalls and insists that he has no plans on losing this time around as he tries to dethrone compatriot and now fellow McLaren team-mate Jenson Button.

The 25-year-old's defense of his title last year was virtually derailed from the start with an under-par car being outclassed by Button in the Brawn team, which saw Hamilton not finish on the podium for the first 10 races.

However, Hamilton, rejuvenated by getting back with his rockstar girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger and having relieved his father Anthony of his managerial responsibilities, is in no mood to play second fiddle to Button or indeed for that matter Germany's seven-time champion Michael Schumacher, who makes his return to the sport after a three year hiatus this weekend.

''I don't plan to lose,'' said Hamilton, who finished last season strongly.

''I've had a good year of being at the back, which was a good experience of losing, so I don't think it will be a problem.

''I'm in a much stronger position as a human being and as a man to be able to cope with it from my experiences last year.

''I know how to pull away from it, to analyse and to push the team forward even faster than we did last year. But don't worry, we won't be there.'