The British racer is preparing for his first home race with the Prancing Horse at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix this weekend and explained that he has to remember that he has achieved "great things" in his F1 career amid a sluggish start to life with the Scuderia.

Hamilton said: "I think the other things I often find myself having to remind myself I have won seven world titles. I have won more than any other driver in history.

"I have to remind myself I also have done great things and whilst things are not always going to be great and we're [Ferrari] having this period of time, things will get better."

Pressure is increasing on Hamilton to deliver for Ferrari but he hit back at the outside talk surrounding his disappointing start to the season.

The 105-time Grand Prix winner said: "[There are] so many rumours, there are so many people making assumptions, comments, judgements. You know, 99 per cent of them don't actually know really what's going on.

"99 per cent or probably 100 per cent of them don't know what I've been through to be, to get where I am today."

Hamilton stressed that he wants his move to the Italian team to be judged over a long-term period.

Speaking ahead of this weekend's race at Imola, he said: "For me, I'm not judging our success by a short amount of racing, half a season, one season.

"Let's talk at the end of my career here at Ferrari, at the end of a few years here at Ferrari, then let's talk about what we've done. That's when we can look back and say whether or not we were successful.

"These few months are paving stones towards where we're going, and that's that."