Hamilton casts doubts on his future in F1
Six-times world champion Lewis Hamilton says there are no guarantees he would be in Formula One next season.
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff recognised that this was a possibility, but told reporters separately that he expected the Briton to stay with a team that has won a record seven successive constructors and ’ drivers titles.
’ I don t even know if Im “’ ’ going to be here next year,” Hamilton, winner of a record 93 races and set for his own seventh title, said in response to a question about Wolff s future.
’ Wolff, a shareholder in the team, has spoken of the succession at the top and wanting to hand over the reins. Hamilton, 35, is out of contract at the end of the year and has yet to put pen to paper on a new deal, though he is expected to do so.
Pressed on his comment, Hamilton who won Sunday s
— ’ Emilia Romagna Grand Prix and has only team mate Valtteri Bottas remaining as a title rival
said: I feel great and still very — “strong ... but you mentioned Toto and shelf-life and there s a
’ multiple of things that stay at the top of my mind.
I would like to be here next “year but there s no guarantee of
’ that, for sure. There s a lot that
’ excites me of life after racing, so time will tell.”
Asked in a separate video briefing about Hamilton s comments,
’ Wolff attributed them to the heat and emotion of the moment. The Austrian said he did not think Hamilton was about to leave.
I hope it s not going to happen. “’ I think we re going to have
’ a pretty frantic driver market out there (if it does).”
Nico Rosberg, Hamilton s former
’ team mate, stunned Mercedes when he announced his retirement days after winning the 2016 world championship. I think nothing is ever secure, “Wolff said.I think that can
” happen to anybody but we want to continue this journey. Lewis and I and all the team, we are not finished.”