REMEMBERING AYRTON I remember when [Brazilian racing car driver] Ayrton Senna died like it was yesterday. I was at my local karting track - Rye House [in Hertfordshire, England - Hamilton began karting when he was eight]. I had just finished a race and my dad said: 'Ayrton just died.' I was shocked. I was young and shy and because my dad was quite hard on me I didn't want to cry in front of him. I went round the front of the car and I cried like crazy.
CHILDHOOD DREAMS If I hadn't started racing maybe I would have played more football. I used to enjoy it at school [where Hamilton played alongside Aston Villa and England midfielder Ashley Young] and it's something I could have been good at. Other than that, maybe I could have got a job in music.
As a kid I sacrificed pretty much everything for racing. My school friends were able to hang out, go to the cinema, go bowling, go to parties. Sometimes I would be invited to a friend's house - where everyone from school was going - but I was always away racing, so I never got close to people at school. And I wasn't the best student; I did the best I could but I was focused on racing the whole time and just passionate about that.
I can honestly say I can count my real friends on one hand. To be my friend they need to be loyal and trustworthy and to have stuck by me through good and bad times, when other people have doubted me. And to give advice. That's what my friends have done.
LIFE LESSONS Nick is my brother and anyone who has a sibling will understand the connection we have. I always wanted a brother and prayed for one when I was seven years old. I keep in contact with him while I'm away by using my BlackBerry to take pictures of what I'm doing and where I've been. Nick does the same. And when we're together we play with our radio-controlled cars and the PlayStation.
He's got a disability [cerebral palsy] but as everybody can see, just from watching him on TV, Nick has a huge character. I've seen while growing up that he can't do some things that I can. People take for granted the fact we can get up and walk and do things like catch balls and have perfect hand-to-eye co-ordination. Nick's always reminded me not to take those things for granted, because he can't. But he tries: he plays football and he falls over and he gets back up and doesn't complain, he just smiles. So when we have great things in our lives and we fall, we shouldn't complain; we should just embrace it and try to move on. He's shown me that. Never give up. Keep going, keep your head high. That's what my brother has taught me.