AGE SHALL NOT WEARY LEWIS

LEWIS Hamilton goes into this weekend’s seasonending floodlit Abu Dhabi Grand Prix seeking to mark his 250th Formula One race with a memorable performance as Mercedes bids to bounce back from an off-form outing in Brazil.

The six-time world champion, pictured, whose future beyond 2020 when his contract expires has been a subject of intensifying speculation, has conceded he faces a battle with his advancing age next season against the sport’s younger tyros.

“I feel like I’m still able to kick it with these guys right now and so I am excited about the future,” said 34-year-old Hamilton.

“But you know it’s inevitable that the youngsters are going to come through.”

Speaking after he finished third on the road in Sao Paulo, before being penalised and dropped to seventh for a late clash with Red Bull’s Alex Albon, he made clear he still relished on-track battles and hoped next season would see a multi-team multi-driver scrap for glory.

“That would be great for Formula One,” he said. Mercedes team chief Toto Wolff’s future has also been under scrutiny and linked with Hamilton’s as the sport prepares for the introduction of radical rules to brighten up the racing in 2021.

Wolff, tipped by some as a future boss of the sport, was absent in Sao Paulo, missing his first race since 2013, and said this week he wanted to see a reaction from the champions at the Yas Marina circuit this weekend.

Hamilton won from pole position last year and has enjoyed four pole position starts at the track and four victories, but may not have it all his own way in a twilight contest scheduled to maximise global viewing.

“Brazil was disappointing for us — we didn’t have the fastest car and we lost a lot of points due to our own mistakes,” Wolff said.