Lewis Hamilton has hit out at his critics in a scintillating interview ahead of his first season with Ferrari, claiming that he is ‘built different’ to any other Formula One driver.

After narrowly missing out on world title No 8 in controversial circumstances to Max Verstappen, he has since struggled to replicate that form, though he has remained competitive throughout.

It comes after former team principal with Mercedes Toto Wolff suggested Hamilton’s departure ‘helps us’ as they no longer have to broach the topic of asking ‘the sport’s most iconic driver that we want to stop’, in a book published in November.