It seems everyone wants to meet Lewis Hamilton. P. Diddy and Pharrell Williams, the American rappers, have his number. So too Naomi Campbell, who Hamilton describes as “a stunner” despite otherwise remaining tight-lipped on the subject of their friendship.

At the recent GQ Awards, Sir Paul McCartney rose from his table to intercept Formula One’s most talked-about driver for a generation. “He said I was an inspiration, that he was proud of me and that he had watched me all year,” a still flabbergasted and goggle-eyed Hamilton, who loves music almost as much as cars, said.

A few days ago, Hamilton took a call from one of his three all-time heroes: Nelson Mandela. “He asked if I would come to Johannesburg for the World Aids Day concert,” he said. “I was gutted. Really gutted. If I had tried to contact Nelson Mandela a year ago I’m sure I would have been shot. I am so disappointed.”

What was more important than meeting Mandela on World Aids Day? A corporate event in a wet and windy Germany and last night’s Autosport Awards in London. Welcome to his not-always-so-glamorous life.

“He is an old man now and I’d hate to think that I will not get to meet him again, especially when I had an opportunity like this,” Hamilton said, visibly upset by having had to make such a sacrifice. “Mandela is not my only idol. I would probably pass out if I met Muhammad Ali. He and Michael Jackson are the only mega-stars in the world for me.”

Weeks after losing out on the world title in his rookie season, Hamilton is still strapped into a machine that is faster, more turbulent, stop-start and on the knife-edge than even his McLaren car — the rollercoaster ride of fame and fortune that is taken in the name of personal progress.

In the past few days he has been chased (again) by the paparazzi around London, this time with Campbell at his side. Trying to hide and evade them only increased their hunger and his anger. He has not yet perfected giving the “paps” the slip as he might Fernando Alonso or Kimi Raikkonen.

We meet during a visit to the Johnnie Walker distillery in Cardhu, on Speyside, in Scotland, and it is refreshing to see that he has a propensity for fury. Six months ago he could do no wrong but more recently some sections of the media have set their sights on Stevenage’s most famous son. Hamilton has been described as robotic and soulless, sanitised by the world of Formula One.

I feared that, too. Despite having known Hamilton since the mid-1990s, when he was still a go-kart racer, it looked from the other side of a TV screen as though his personal dynamism might have been homogenised inside the grand-prix paddock.

The first time I interviewed him was almost a decade ago, when he was 15. We hung out playing computer games, looking at his collection of Formula One posters and talking of how great it must be to be a Formula One driver such as David Coulthard (then at the peak of his career at McLaren) and have all those beautiful girls around. Away from the Formula One track, thankfully nothing much has changed. He still races his brother Nick, a cerebral palsy sufferer, on the PlayStation — and usually wins, ironically by racing as Raikkonen, the man who pipped Hamilton to the world crown. Hamilton will not appear on Formula One games until next year.

“I cannot help being competitive,” he said, grinning without embarrassment, although in their other shared passion — radio-controlled racing — Nick holds his own. This year, in the most topsy-turvy of moments, his younger brother has been Lewis’s rock. “Seeing him and the things he does keeps things in perspective,” he said. “I really appreciate that he always has a smile on his face. It proves that there’s nothing that bad.

“For sure this year there have been some tough times, times I could have easily said ‘no I’ll not be able to do it’, but he always helps me and proves me wrong.”

Hamilton’s move to Switzerland, which he claims has been forced on him because of relentless intrusion into his private life, will result in him spending less time with Nick. Many have also pointed out that it will save him millions in tax but he makes light of his earnings. “I only just got a bank account and a credit card,” he said.

Despite millionaire status, the toys in the Hamilton cupboard really are still toys. He proudly told me of the restoration of his first radio-controlled racing car, the one he demonstrated on Blue Peter.

Charmingly, he seemed to be dressed entirely in the free handouts of his clothing sponsors and wearing another sponsor’s watch. As for a wee dram at Johnnie Walker, he is abstemious. “I am happy to be the designated driver when I am out with friends. That way I know we always get home safe,” Hamilton, who is aware that teenagers will be influenced by his actions, said. “I am happy to support any programme that promotes responsible drinking and the dangers of drink-driving, especially at this time of year.”

In less than a month it will be 2008 and Hamilton knows that next year will be even more important than 2007. “We did not win in 2007,” he said. “It’s as simple as that. I am not going to say I will be champion in 2008. That’s not a realistic thing to claim at this stage. But I am nowhere near my best and as far as I am concerned, the sky’s the limit. All I can do is think about the next race and be better than I was.”

Hamilton had to leave. His jet was waiting at Inverness airport. As he got up, someone proffered a copy of his autobiography for signing. I joked that instead, next Christmas, he should release an album with McCartney and all his newfound musician mates. “Maybe I will,” he said, dead-pan. “I’ve got soul for sure. I’ve got rhythm and I do a little bit of rapping. I’m not bad. You’ll be interested to see what happens over the next few months.”

Hamilton should not expect any support with his album from Simon Cowell, though, not after annihilating the record producer’s time around the BBC Top Gear test track this week. “I’m definitely not going on X Factor,” Hamilton said laughing before heading off for his next engagement. Sadly, it was not with Nelson Mandela.

Lewis Hamilton promotes Responsible Drinking for Johnnie Walker, a sponsor of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes. For more information go to drinkaware.co.uk