Jenson Button: Lewis Hamilton could retire after 2023 if Mercedes fail to deliver again
Jenson Button speculates Hamilton's mindset of wanting to stay in F1 only with title-contending machinery.
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Jenson Button, Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton will drive for Mercedes for an eleventh season in Formula 1. The 7-time world champion has been a stable part of the Silver Arrows and the pair has achieved great success in F1. The 38-year-old is due for a contract renewal at the end of this season. Yet, the talks have not begun between the two parties. Although, the British driver has stated his intention of staying in the sport.
Hamilton’s former teammate Jenson Button expressed his views on the subject. The 2009 world champion believed the 38-year-old wants to see the performance of the W14. He said, “It has to be that right?” Button further wondered if there could be any other reason for Lewis Hamilton. Jenson stated, “Why otherwise would you leave it this late?” Jenson talked about the hatred of F1 drivers to negotiate contracts, something that the 38-year-old is well aware of.
He said, “He knows how annoying we all are asking [about the contract]. I mean, we’ve got to ask the question.” Subsequently, the former world champion believed that Lewis Hamilton would hate answering this question as Mercedes’s pace still stays in the dark. Button continued, “But he’s going to hate answering it over and over and over and over again. It can only be because he’s wondering how competitive they will be.”
“Is he going to sign if the car is uncompetitive,” Jenson Button on Lewis Hamilton
The 43-year-old was uncertain about what Lewis Hamilton might be aiming for. Button wondered if the British driver would stay with Mercedes even if the car lacks the pace to fight for the title. JB inquired, “Is he going to sign if the car is uncompetitive because he wants it to be quick again before he retires?” On the other hand, the former world champion also speculated about Hamilton’s desire to not race in F1 with a slow car.
Button continued, “Or is he thinking ‘If it’s not better, I’m just going to retire.’ Who knows?” Moreover, the former Brawn GP driver was excited to see the Mercedes driver lineup. Jenson was confident that Lewis Hamilton and George Russell would push one another to their limits as teammates again this season. Button said, “I think it’s a great fight.” in their first season as teammates, Russell managed to outscore Hamilton and also take the team’s only win of the year in Brazil.
Thus, Jenson Button seems to have an idea of the possibilities for Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes. The Silver Arrows have put faith in the 38-year-old for over a decade now, with the team revolving around the British driver. So much so, that Red Bull team boss, Christian Horner has wondered about the potential disaster at the German team when the 38-year-old inevitably says goodbye to the sport.
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Armaan Agarwal
(2310 Articles Published)