The Mercedes driver comes into the 2018 season, which starts in Australia this weekend, as the favourite to retain his world championship after beating Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel last year.
Hamilton can become only the third driver to win five F1 titles if he triumphs this year, equalling the haul of Juan Manuel Fangio – considered by many as the best racer ever.
Yet he insists drawing level with such an iconic figure in the sport is not extra motivation on the eve of what many expect to be a far more competitive campaign.
Asked whether he had thought about equalling Fangio, he told reporters at a press conference in Melbourne: “I’ve not, honestly.
“It’s a long, long season so you don’t really think about those kind of things, you don’t think about what could be in the sense of matching others.
“In my mind I’m trying to break down new barriers, I’m trying to push the envelope and see how far I can take firstly the opportunity I have and obviously the ability I have and live to my full potential.
“I don’t know what that is and that’s what I’m discovering.”
Hamilton turned 33 at the start of the year but still believes he is at the height of his career trajectory.
He added: “I’m definitely in a good range right now and that’s where I need to continue to try to be to extract the most I can from it.”