Hamilton stormed to a fourth F1 title in 2017 despite being behind Sebastian Vettel at the halfway point.
The Brit won five of the last nine races of the season to beat Vettel to top spot.
Hamilton has now won three of the past four Drivers’ Championships and remains favourite to add another to his tally next term.
Both Ferrari and Red Bull are hoping to narrow the gap on the Mercedes car, while McLaren could be a contender with their new Renault engine.
But Hamilton reckons he holds the fate of the 2018 F1 title in his hands.
“Ultimately getting better requires working harder,” he told the BBC.
“How do you work harder when you feel you’ve worked harder than ever before? Well there are always areas you can work on.
“I don’t have all the answers yet but I definitely plan to be stronger next year.
“If you look at this year, the second phase of the season was solid. The start was not so.
“So, (I’m thinking) how can I convert the second half of the season into a whole season? That’s how I can be better.
“If I can do that no one has a chance (of beating me) in my mind.
“But it’s easier said than done. I have to study the information that’s given to me.
“How I prepare training-wise and how I get my mind in gear for next year will be important.
“Each week you come across challenges and it’s how you overcome those along the way.”
Asked if 2017 was his best year yet, Hamilton said: “Yeah definitely.
“This year has definitely been, globally, a much better job.
“Much tidier, much neater and much stronger in terms of how we have communicated with our work process, work ethic, fitness level, everything.”
