Correction: The previous headline on this story was misleading and did not provide the context around what Lewis Hamilton said in his interview with CNN.

(CNN) Formula One has given Lewis Hamilton plenty over the years -- fame, fortune, not to mention three world championships.

Yet the 31-year-old global superstar insists he doesn't owe the sport anything.

His reasoning?

Since making his bow at the Australian Grand Prix nine years ago, nobody, Hamilton argues, has done more to promote F1 across the globe than him.

"I've been here for 10 years -- given my blood, sweat and tears for the sport. So, I don't feel like I owe it anything," Hamilton told CNN.

"I actually probably promote the sport more than any other driver ever has. I'm at more events talking about Formula One more than any driver ever has -- probably all the other drivers put together and more.

Photos: Lewis Hamilton's $1000 custom helmets Photos: Lewis Hamilton's $1000 custom helmets They may save lives but, to Jason Fowler, Formula One helmets serve as the canvasses for his eye-catching artwork. And for the last 16 years, he's been decorating the head wear of reigning F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton. Hide Caption 1 of 13 Photos: Lewis Hamilton's $1000 custom helmets "The first helmet we painted for Lewis was back in 1999," Fowler told CNN. "He was still karting so it was quite a long time ago, but we could see he was going places." Hide Caption 2 of 13 Photos: Lewis Hamilton's $1000 custom helmets When it comes to custom painted helmets, the possibilities are endless. First they are stripped back to prepare for painting before being airbrushed and finished with a two-stage lacquer. Hide Caption 3 of 13 Photos: Lewis Hamilton's $1000 custom helmets Hamilton, who took the checkered flag at Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix to continue his flying start to the 2015 season , is known for his unique helmets. But the Briton was recently forced to conform to new FIA rules that prevent drivers from changing designs during the season. Hide Caption 4 of 13 Photos: Lewis Hamilton's $1000 custom helmets "I think it's a pretty ridiculous idea to be honest with you," said Fowler of the ruling. "It's the one area where drivers can be an individual, they can show a bit of personality, commemorate a special race." Hide Caption 5 of 13 Photos: Lewis Hamilton's $1000 custom helmets Last year Jenson Button wore a special pink helmet design in the British Grand Prix as part of a memorial to his father John, who passed away in January 2014. Hide Caption 6 of 13 Photos: Lewis Hamilton's $1000 custom helmets "The helmet to us is more than just safety wear, it's a canvas, it's a way for the drivers to express themselves," added Fowler. Hide Caption 7 of 13 Photos: Lewis Hamilton's $1000 custom helmets Custom-made helmets don't come cheap. Helmets designed for Hamilton can cost upwards of $1000. Luckily, Hamilton has annual salary of $29 million -- according to Forbes Hide Caption 8 of 13 Photos: Lewis Hamilton's $1000 custom helmets As well as looking good, Fowler hopes his works also help the drivers go that little bit faster. "I like to think the designs are worth a couple of tenths a lap," he said. Hide Caption 9 of 13 Photos: Lewis Hamilton's $1000 custom helmets "When we send designs to Lewis, sometimes he loves them and goes for them straightaway," explains Fowler. "Other times he's not so sure and we have to tweak things. Part of the design is trying to read someone's mind all the time because they know what they want, but we know what we can do." Hide Caption 10 of 13 Photos: Lewis Hamilton's $1000 custom helmets For the 2014 Monaco Grand Prix, Hamilton wanted something extra special. "He'd seen an ice-cream truck in America that had been custom-painted with cartoon characters and he liked the style of it," revealed Fowler. "The whole design was hand air-brushed, there was no painting or anything like that." The result was a caricature of Hamilton with his then girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger and his beloved dog Roscoe. While Hamilton and Scherzinger have since separated, the bulldog is very much still part of his life. Hide Caption 11 of 13 Photos: Lewis Hamilton's $1000 custom helmets "When we do the design, Lewis is quite hands-on. He's got quite a good eye for design, he's knows the kind of things he likes," Fowler said of his high-profile client. Hide Caption 12 of 13 Photos: Lewis Hamilton's $1000 custom helmets "For the 2015 design we kept the same elements as last year but to celebrate the two championship wins that Lewis has now got, we changed the side bars to include two stars." Hamilton has started the 2015 season in imperious form, winning three of the year's first four races. Hide Caption 13 of 13

"I don't feel like I have any more of a responsibility. I've got some incredible fans and I give as much time as I can to motivate them and energize those who do follow me. So I don't know what else I have to give."

Hamilton's remarkable start to F1 life, which saw him miss out on the world championship by a single point in his debut campaign before winning it at the second attempt, has ensured that he's been in the spotlight from the off.

Celebrity girlfriends, showbiz parties and fashion shows have followed, yet hard work and commitment have seen him remain among the sport's elite.

But while the Mercedes driver has been out and about promoting F1 since his arrival on the scene, he admits he has no say on how it is run -- not that he has any desire to take on a more influential role.

"Ultimately sport, business... it's money and power. We [the drivers] will say stuff but ultimately it's those people who are sitting in their chair, striking a pen, paying checks, making money, that will be the ones that [have the final say]," Hamilton said.

"I'm not saying it's wrong. It's just like a corporate business -- money is the power, money is the ruler. The people who own the sport make the decisions. [Would I like to have more of a say?] Not really. It doesn't make any difference."

Slow start

Out on the track is where Hamilton feels most at home -- though that hasn't always appeared the case for the reigning world champion this season.

Three races into the 2016 campaign and he already finds himself 36 points behind teammate and early frontrunner Nico Rosberg.

Poor starts, collisions and five-place grid penalties have contributed to Hamilton's sluggish opening, but he has no plans to throw in the towel any time soon.

"It's easy at any point in time in life to look at the negatives at one particular moment and think that all is gone but there's a long, long way to go," he said.

"As long as I know I've given absolutely everything that's in my physical power and mental ability, as long as I've given everything, I can never be upset."

"Hopefully I've still showed that fighting spirit that I've always had since I was a kid," he added. "So another 18 races to go. Still got a great car. Still got a great team. It's important that none of us change anything."

Rosberg, who's relationship with Hamilton is always under the spotlight, has won the season's first three races.

No driver in the history of the sport has failed to win the championship from such a position.

"He's done a great job. I've not been there to really be in the fight with him," Hamilton said. "He's had pretty much a breeze for the last three races. Good for him.

"But he should enjoy it whilst it lasts, because you never know how long it's going to last..."