Lewis Hamilton back on track thanks to family support

LEWIS HAMILTON kept his personal demons and Fernando Alonso at bay to claim victory in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix yesterday, and afterwards thanked his family for helping him get back on track.

"This weekend I was able to think straight and that's because I had some great support here", said Hamilton after the 17th win of his career, which was attended by his mother Brenda. "I've had a positive feeling all weekend."

The British driver took advantage when runaway champion Sebastian Vettel suffered a race-ending puncture on his first lap. Hamilton hit the front and held off the field for the 54 remaining laps, surviving the persistent challenge from Alonso's Ferrari, which The Guardian's Paul Weaver believes is "the most terrifying sight in the sport [to have] in one's rear-view mirror."

It was Hamilton's first win in eight races, since the German Grand Prix in July. In recent months he has been suffering from the deaths of two close friends and a painful split from long-term girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger. On the track he has made headlines for his crashes and his never-ending feud with Brazilian driver Felipe Massa.

But McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh says Hamilton is now ready to draw a line under this unhappy period of his life and will travel to the last race of the season in Brazil with a newfound spring in his step.

"There is no reason in my mind why he can't raise himself to another level now", Whitmarsh told the BBC. "We're looking forward to Brazil and another race - he will want to win there." ·