“You lose your ability to go to places. You really struggle to live a normal life,” Hamilton revealed, ironically 24 hours after his home town of Stevenage announced the naming of a street after him.

“It’s been a really tough year. I’ve not been able to spend a lot of time with my friends, my family.

“You come home and everyone knows you, it makes it so much harder to do normal things.

“I can’t go to the cinema. I go to the bathroom in a petrol station and people come in there for autographs.

“It’s tough but I knew that was going to be the case.

Of tax haven Switzerland, he added: “People don’t come up to you. They leave you, they give you your space.”

Hamilton’s McLaren team-mate Fernando Alonso already has a property near Lake Geneva.

But, despite the Briton insisting the pair get on well, do not expect Hamilton to be inviting the Spaniard round for dinner any time soon.

“We get on as well as any two people working together,” Hamilton told the BBC.

“I’m not saying we sit down and we’re best friends and he calls me up and wants to come to the house.”

Speculation is rife Alonso will not be at McLaren next season after he fell out with team principal Ron Dennis over the ’spy’ saga, which saw the team fined almost £50m (€72m).

There have also been regular reports of a rift with Hamilton, who insists he is “not fussed” if Alonso stays on board.

“I don’t really know if he’s going to be my team-mate next year. I’m not really too bothered,” he said.

“If he is, then great, we’ll fight for another year. I’m really not fussed either way.”

Hamilton has also accused F1 authorities of treating McLaren unfairly last season, claiming his team must be whiter than white next year if they are to steer clear of trouble.

In addition to the ’spy’ saga, McLaren have appealed the result of the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix, the outcome of which could yet see Hamilton handed the crown.

“They’re obviously tough on us, maybe more than on others,” he said on Sky News.

“Next year, we know what expect. We should keep our heads down, level-headed and just get on with.

He added: “You just focus on your job and just try to keep it squeaky clean, do everything perfect.”

Hamilton still has an outside chance of being 2007 world champion if the November 15 hearing into events at Interlagos eight days ago goes McLaren’s way.

The team have appealed the stewards’ decision not to penalise Williams or BMW for fuel irregularities.

Were they to be disqualified, Hamilton may be handed the points that would see him overhaul Kimi Raikonnen as champion – though the possibility appears remote.

Whatever the outcome, Hamilton warned his rivals he will not give in until his championship dream is realised.

“That’s part of my personality. There’s not been one person I’ve met who goes as far as me,” he said.

“Some people just bail out right at the end and I still manage to do that little bit further.

“I will keep on going until I reach my goal.”