Lewis insists he is not the retiring type

AS RUMOURS about his future swirl around the Baku City Circuit, Lewis Hamilton grins as he sits in the Mercedes hospitality suite. In an interview last week, Hamilton hinted he was about to drive off into the sunset. ‘My destiny is in my own hands,’ he said then. ‘I can decide to stop at the end of this year. I don’t know what I’m going to do.’ But as we sit down ahead of tomorrow’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, it quickly becomes clear that nothing could be further from the Briton’s mind. ‘I don’t even remember discussing that,’ said Hamilton (right). ‘It’s not something I’m thinking about right now. ‘I could easily do another three-year contract. I could go another one after that, too, but at least one more. ‘I’m 32 and I feel like I’m on the pivot now. I don’t feel like I’m one of the older ones. I still feel like I’m in my prime or even on the verge of my prime.’ Hamilton cut an emotional figure at the last race in Canada after matching Ayrton Senna’s tally of 65 career pole positions. With three to his name, Hamilton also has the same number of world titles as his Brazilian hero. But far from easing off, the Mercedes driver is intent on pressing the accelerator. ‘I always wanted to emulate Ayrton and now I have,’ he added. ‘People ask me if I want to emulate Michael (Schumacher), but I never really had a desire to get seven world titles. ‘It’s just how much time you’re willing to devote to it. If you look at Nico (Rosberg), he didn’t want to give any more of his life to this sport but I’ll always be a racing driver.’ Hamilton has work to do, though, as Max Verstappen topped both practice sessions. But the Red Bull driver’s joy was short-lived after he crashed, with Hamilton in tenth.

TV: Qualifying — Today LIVE 1pm Sky F1, 12.55pm Channel 4. Race — Tomorrow LIVE 12.30pm. Sky F1, LIVE 1pm Channel 4.