Hamilton proud of recovery after hitting rock bottom a year ago

The 41-year-old seven-time world champion admitted he was at rock bottom when he made those comments after qualifying and finishing 12th while team-mate Charles Leclerc took pole and finished fourth.

"I'm proud of everyone in the team and I am proud of myself," he said. "For digging myself out of that place that I was in.

"One day, when I do my documentary, I will tell you all about that weekend and what led up to it, but to come from there and into this week… I arrive now worlds away from where I was last year."

Hamilton is second in the drivers' championship, 45 points behind Mercedes' 19-year-old Italian Kimi Antonelli, after claiming five podiums including his first Ferrari triumph, in Spain, this season.

"I am grateful for how we've developed as a team, the pieces to the puzzle that I am moving, coming together, and now we are here with a great car and a great package that we can fight with."

Hamilton has a good chance of improving his position and securing a record-increasing 107th victory on one of his favourite circuits on Sunday in his 20th consecutive Hungarian race.

He has won eight times at the slow, twisting and technical track, 25 km north of Budapest, has been on pole position a record nine times and holds the record for most laps led by a single driver at any venue with 487.

He has scored points in all ten races this year and revelled in Ferrari's return to form with reliability and increasing performance race by race as they have steadily pursued Mercedes and Antonelli in the championship.