Lewis Hamilton has shared one of his main fears about his future move to Ferrari. The seven-time Formula One world champion is expected to join the Italian giants next season, bringing his epic 12-season stint with Mercedes to an end.

Since winning his last title in 2020, Hamilton has had a difficult few years and has been supplanted by Max Verstappen as the sport’s main figure. He has also experienced collective disappointment, with the squad behind Red Bull, Ferrari, and McLaren in recent seasons.

With only two races remaining in 2024, they will have to settle with fourth in the constructors’ standings, two places worse than their final position the previous year.

Despite Hamilton’s ongoing struggles, there have been glimpses of his supreme talent during his final campaign with the Silver Arrows.

An emotional victory at Silverstone in July was shortly followed up by further success in Spa before the summer break, for example, and he was back to best at last weekend’s Las Vegas Grand Prix, fighting back from 10th on the grid to finish second behind team-mate George Russell.

Verstappen was crowned world champion for the fourth consecutive season in Nevada, and Hamilton knows he will be the man to beat once again if he wants to get his hands on an elusive eighth championship in 2025.

Speaking to media after the Las Vegas showpiece, Hamilton paid tribute to his Dutch rival and admitted he is unsure whether he will be in a position to compete next season.

“He’s done a fantastic job,” said the 105-time race winner.

“He’s not made any mistakes and he’s delivered every time and every point he’s supposed to.

“And him and his team have done the best job, again, fourth year in a row – and it definitely got exciting at one point.

“I think they will be hard to beat next year because they probably started earlier than everyone else developing next year’s car as well.

“But yeah, really happy for him.”