Mercedes News: Lewis Hamilton Confirms F1 Future - "I'm In My Prime"
Lewis Hamilton has opened up on his Mercedes contract, which is coming up to its current expiry at the end of this year.
The seven-time champion's contract has been a huge discussion point over the start of the season with many rumours that he might head into retirement or even move away from the Brackley-based quad.
However, in previous interviews, the British driver has expressed his drive in continuing racing until he achieves his eighth championship title. Now, in a discussion with ESPN after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Hamilton has confirmed that he is not planning on stopping anytime soon. He explained:
"I don't plan on stopping any time soon.
"I'm not at the end of my career, I'm not in the downhill slope of my career. I'm in my prime.
"It all depends on how hard I want to work and keep myself in my prime, in terms of physical and mental capability.
"If you look at LeBron [James], if you look at Tom Brady, they have shown that it can be sustained for as long as you are dedicated enough to put the energy and time in.
"Right now, I don't plan on changing, I only plan on adding to the drive and the motivation and to being better. I'm massively driven."
Mercedes are yet to confirm a contract extension, however, at this point it is looking inevitable. The likelihood of Hamilton moving away from the Mercedes team is extremely low when you consider the other ventures they have gone into together such as the Accelerate 25 programme which aims to increase diversity and inclusivity into the sport.
When asked whether he had thought about going anywhere else, Hamilton explained:
"I'd be lying if I said I'd never thought about ending my career anywhere else.
"I started at McLaren, I'd like to think I'll always be a part of the McLaren family, I started there when I was 13 years old [as a junior driver], so I thought about what it would look like if I was at McLaren one day.
"I thought about and watched the Ferrari drivers on the screens at the track and of course you wonder what it would be like to be in red... But then I go to my team, to Mercedes, and this is my home. I'm happy where I am. I haven't signed a contract yet, but we are working on one."