The seven-time F1 world champion took his first race victory for the Prancing Horse at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix on Sunday (14.06.26) and admits that criticism got to him at times last year as he struggled for form during his debut campaign with the Italian team.

Hamilton said: "There were moments where I thought I would never get to win again. After a year like last year there were moments when I thought, ‘Sheesh maybe it’s true that you get to a point where you lose it’. [But] I have proven that you don’t – you always have it.

"It takes work, perseverance, constantly believing in yourself, to tap into your inner self, keep yourself alive and keep yourself fit. I feel great physically, racing with 19-year-olds who are doing amazing.

"I am only human so there are moments where I see the stuff and for sure there were moments where I allowed it to get to me and penetrate deeply, but then I went through a sequence of unplugging from that matrix."

Hamilton now trails Mercedes racer Kimi Antonelli by 41 points in the championship but insists that he isn't thinking about the prospect of winning a record eighth world title.

The 106-time Grand Prix winner said: "The changes that I’ve asked for and pushed for – I’ve now got the right team around me and I can do what I do best.

"Ultimately Fred (Vasseur, Ferrari team boss) really listened at the end, I really asked for some changes and he enabled them to happen.

"Honestly with the way the year started out I have not really been thinking about [the championship]. Of course what we have worked towards is being able to win but it takes time, Mercedes have come out the gate with a blistering car.

"We know we have a power deficit. As I said we have got a good car at the core and we can keep adding performance.

"It’s very hard to think long-term at the moment. We need to take it one race at a time, one week at a time. We need to keep pushing and enjoy it – and have fun with it as well."