I’ve got fuel in the tank to keep racing, says Hamilton
LEWIS HAMILTON last night dropped his first hint that he is prepared to extend his Formula One career beyond next season.
The seven-time world champion was speaking after finishing in a season-high second place at yesterday’s French Grand Prix — his 300th career start.
His £40million-a-year contract is due to expire at the end of 2023 — close to his 39th birthday, when he was expected to retire.
But Hamilton said: ‘I still feel fresh and as though I have got plenty of fuel left in the tank.’ He would like to add an eighth title to his c.v. before quitting — a feat beyond him this year from 106 points behind leader Max Verstappen. Hamilton’s team principal Toto Wolff said this weekend that he thinks his star man can reach 400 races, adding — perhaps tongue in cheek — that five or even 10 more years may be doable for the Brit.
Asked about another 100 starts, Hamilton said: ‘That is a lot of races. First, I want to be grateful to get to this point. ‘I am enjoying what I am doing and I am proud of working with this incredible group of people. ‘I want to get back to winning ways and that is going to take time, but I am sure we will sit down at some stage to talk about the future. ‘I want to keep building. One thing is racing but another is to continue to do more outside the sport (on social matters), which I think Mercedes and us can, and will do.’
Hamilton passed Red Bull’s Sergio Perez and was helped a step up the podium when Ferrari’s race leader Charles Leclerc spun off to finish 10 seconds behind Verstappen. Of Mercedes’ mini-revival, Hamilton remarked: ‘Am I enjoying it more? One hundred per cent. The beginning of the year was confusing, if not miserable. Now we understand the car more. That has given us a much more enjoyable drive. ‘We still lack performance in some areas but we are slowly getting there. It is about constantly chipping away. ‘Maybe one big leap will come and we will be right there.’