SINGAPORE, Sept 25, 2008 (AFP) - Lewis Hamilton is not only the hottest property in Formula One but also exudes supreme confidence, declaring Thursday that he has always been talented.

The 23-year-old Briton, leading the world championship by a point from Brazil´s Felipe Massa, has predictably been in big demand in Singapore ahead of the Grand Prix this weekend.

Asked Thursday why he was such an incredible talent, he seemed taken aback.

"I honestly have never been asked that before," he replied.

"I have had a talent since I was very young and it was just a case of taking that talent and grabbing it with both hands and nurturing it and trying to do the very best job I can."

Hamilton graduated from go-karts when he was 17 and then Formula Three two years later before finally hitting the big time in Formula One last year in a stunning rookie season where he made the podium in his first nine races.

He won four Grand Prix before errors in the final two rounds dropped him to second place in the race for the world title behind Kimi Raikkonen.

Hamilton said every step of his racing journey had taught him something different.

"Every experience I´ve had since I was eight years old, I´ve taken in a little bit and with the help of my dad I have since a very young age learnt the skill of taking the positives from the negatives," he said.

"From there I have just grown and perhaps learnt faster than others around me.

"I´m just a normal guy in this crazy business. I honestly don´t know how I do it. I just get in a car and I surprise even myself."