Lewis Hamilton says he is ready to challenge for the F1 title in 2012 after spending the winter analysing his mistakes from 2011.
The McLaren driver says he is in a good place mentally as he aims to create an environment in which he can perform more consistently after a disappointing campaign last year.
"I feel great. I'm trying to take all the right steps towards keeping myself focused on the main goal, which is winning the world championship," Hamilton, who won the title in 2008, told the BBC.
"As long as we have the car, there is no reason why we can't do that."
The 27-year-old was speaking after his first day of testing the new McLaren in Jerez, about which his first impressions were that it was 'pretty good' to drive.
The Englishman was fourth fastest in the testing session, marginally slower than reigning champion Sebastien Vettel, and it was also announced on Wednesday that Didier Coton, who has previously worked with double world champion Mika Hakkinen, would be joining his management team.