Qatar Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton frustrated after Las Vegas

Asked whether he would still have signed for Ferrari if he had known how difficult this season would be, Hamilton said: “I don’t regret the decision I made joining the team. I know it takes time to build and grow within an organisation, and I expected that, so yes.”

Hamilton joined Ferrari in the hope the team could take him to a record-breaking eighth drivers’ title, but his first season has been an anti-climax.

The 40-year-old is hoping for a more competitive car from Ferrari next season, and is happy to see the back of the current technical rules, which he feels do not gel with his driving style.

F1 is introducing new chassis and engine rules next season.

The engines will have a much greater proportion of their total power output created by the hybrid part of the power unit, while the cars are returning to an aerodynamic philosophy more like those with which Hamilton had so much success from 2007-21.

But he said Ferrari had “a lot of work to do” over the winter to improve their operations at the track.

“We’ll analyse the season and there’s lots of improvements we need to make collectively,” he said, “but no-one’s under any illusion in the team that we will have to play our part and I believe that we can.

“So I’m hoping we implement and make those changes along with hopefully a better package next year.”