LEWIS HAMILTON admits he has struggled to control his emotions this season as he prepares to bring the curtain down on a glittering 12-year stay at Mercedes.

The 39-year-old, who signed a deal to join Ferrari from 2025 ahead of the season, has won six of his seven world championships with the Silver Arrows but his final campaign with the team has not been plain sailing.

Hamilton made the startling admission in Qatar last weekend that “I am definitely not fast any more” after previously hinting in Brazil that he would not even finish the season with Mercedes.