Lewis Hamilton says narrowly missing out on last year's World Championship has only increased to his will to win ahead of the new season.

Despite winning four grands prix and finishing on the podium a further eight times in a remarkable debut season, the season ended in disappointment, as 23-year-old missed out on the world title by a point. But with the new season due to get underway with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne in nine days' time, Hamilton is eager to get started.

"I generally don't ever demand or have expectations of myself or anyone else - I am more focused on targets," Hamilton said. "The targets for the team and for myself are to win as many races as possible, improve on my performance from last year, finish all the races, and for the team it is to win the constructors' title. My motivation is even higher than last year, but in a slightly different way.

"I would say last year was an uncontrollable determination and excitement, just not really knowing what was coming up, just going into the deep blue. Now I know what to expect, I know about my preparations so I am storing energy.

"To some people it might appear I am quieter or something along those lines, but I am saving all this energy for the first race, and I cannot wait to get out there."

After an impressive performance in pre-season testing, Hamilton claims to have "total confidence in the car," with his initial target a race victory at Albert Park.

"We need to get off to a really good start, it needs to be the best start possible," he said. "So I am going there with the aim of winning the race, and we will all work hard to try and achieve that. I feel very positive about the new car. I think we have made some mega steps forward and the reliability is even better.

"The car feels stronger than last year, and despite the removal of areas such as traction control, it is also very similar in certain ways. I think we have come a really long way already before the first grand prix, and I am confident we will be able to compete with the other teams."

Hamilton's debut race in Australia still evokes strong memories, in particular his first corner manoeuvre when he passed then team-mate Fernando Alonso around the outside.

"That has to be one of the best memories for sure, I will never forget that moment," he added. "Also finishing on the podium for the first time and only just finishing third, so close behind second [Alonso]. It was my first race and all the expectation was riding on my shoulders from everyone else, but I just focused on my targets and got a great result."