Lewis Hamilton on F1 future: “I plan on staying” - but for how long?
The Mercedes driver is now 37-years-old, the second-oldest on the grid behind 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Fernando Alonso, and his contract with his team is due to expire at the end of the 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:F1 2023 season.
Mercedes team principal Wolff said Hamilton could remain for another five years - but the seven-tim💮e 🥀world champion could not confirm that timeframe.
“I haven't spoken to him about his comments but I can't say just yet,” Hamilton said at the 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:F1 Japanese Grand Prix.
“Possibly, yes, I'm feeling good. I love what I'm doing. We have a lot of wor🐲k to do, a lot to achieve still.
“So I'm not planning on going anywhere,🅺 any time soonౠ.
“It’s not that I’m not sure, I💦 know what I want to do. I plan on staying longer.
“It’s just not set in stone how long.
“I plan on staying with Mercedes for the rest of my life, that’s a definite.&nb🍸sp;
“It’s more figuring out what we are going to do down the line, even beyond racing I want to be building wi🔯th Mercedes and there is a lot that Mercedes can do, it’s not🔯 just a car manufacturer.
“It provides so many jobs for so many people and it has such a powerful platform to really shift narratives and it has a place where it can have a really positive impact on the environment – th꧟ere’s loads of things that we can do together and I want to be a part of that.
“I ꦦwant to be part of that shift and work process with Mercedes far beyond races and championships, bu🥂t for now it’s to win world championships and that’s the immediate focus.”
Hamilton was denied an all-time record eighth F1 world championship by 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Max Verstappen at the controversial 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, a꧃nd now arrives at Suzuka with the sport engulfed in a cost cap row.
Hamꦯilton has suggested thaꦐt Red Bull’s alleged overspending last season contributed to Verstappen pipping him for the title. This weekend, Verstappen can add a second world title to his growing legacy.
Asked if his motivation to📖 stay was to battle Verstappen, Hamilton said: “Less than you’d think. I think it’s more just where I am in life.
“I’ve got great things happening outside, I’ve got a lot of freedom to be able to do things, I’m building things outside of the sport wꦑith my foundation that I’v🌳e just started, and it’s going to take a lot of work.
“There’s a lot o🌳f work that still needs to be d📖one in this sport and I can’t retire now because I’m only just embarking in helping shift and create a more open and inclusive environment here in this sport, and I’ve got to stay to help that continue.
“Also, I feel healthier than I have ever been, justꦰ because of what I eat and how I prepare myself and I love racing. I’ve been doing it since as long as I can remember, since I was five years old and that’s not going to go away.
“If I’m still fit and able to focus, why 🎃would I stop? And I can still do the other things that I want to do at the same time as well.”
The 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:F1 2023 calendar is its biggest ever, with 24 races.
James was a sports journalist at🍒 Sky Sports for a decade covering everything from American sports, to football, to F1.
