Hamilton says Mercedes not most dominant ever

From Valtteri Bottas to Max Verstappen, drivers up and down pitlane are being linked with a Ferrari seat for 2016.

Not Lewis Hamilton, although he does admit to having ’contact’ with the Maranello marque.

"Every year. I love their road cars!" he laughed in an interview with Spain’s El Mundo.

When it comes to F1, Hamilton is a dyed-in-the-wool Mercedes man, having recently signed what is believed could be the most lucrative contract in F1 history.

But his rapper-style, jet-set lifestyle means he is not universally popular, as the recent global fan survey demonstrated.

And asked if he feels envied by his rivals, Hamilton answered: "I don’t care what others think of me. From the age of 8 I have been envied."

Now, however, he is driving perhaps the most dominant car in the sport’s entire history.

"I don’t think it is. What about Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari? Or Vettel’s Red Bull?

"I do admit that it is a great feeling to drive a car like the Mercedes. I have never felt anything like it," he said.

But with the likes of Fernando Alonso and Red Bull now struggling, does Hamilton regret not having more competition to fight?

"(Do I) miss what? At Silverstone I was fighting Massa and at other races it has been Vettel. And always Nico (Rosberg)."

However, he doesn’t think his old team McLaren will be a threat for some time.

"McLaren has the talent, the history and the resources it needs, but seeing the level of my team, I don’t think they’re going to be able to beat us (soon)," Hamilton smiled.