“Why should I stop?”: Lewis Hamilton shoots down retirement rumors
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Lewis Hamilton
Seven time World Champion Lewis Hamilton is already 37 but is showing no signs of slowing down. He is set to turn forty in 2025, which means that the British legend still has two full seasons to compete in while he’s still in his 30s.
However, Lewis Hamilton will have his contract end at the end of 2023, and after that he might be looking to move on and part ways with Mercedes given how things have been on track.
Hamilton was denied his eighth title last year when the championship came down to the wire at the last race of the season at Abu Dhabi. The race was shrouded in controversies as Max Verstappen took the victory after passing Hamilton on the last lap after a safety car period. This meant that Verstappen became the Driver’s World Champion and Lewis’ record breaking eighth title had to wait.
Fast forward to this season, the 2022 F1 season saw a plethora of rule changes and thus the development of brand new cars from scratch. Mercedes could not really make good use of the opportunity and Red Bull and Ferrari have jumped them in terms of car performance. Lewis Hamilton has next to zero chance of winning the title this year as he currently stands sixth in the Driver’s Championship. A whopping 75 points behind current championship leader and reigning World Champion Max Verstappen and 34 points behind his teammate George Russell.
Lewis Hamilton still enjoys racing and will keep on racing till he can’t take the pressure anymore
However, even all of this isn’t enough to bring the thought of retirement on the mind of Lewis Hamilton. In an interview with Corriere Della Sera, Hamilton was asked if he sees himself competiting at the top level of racing when he turns 40. Lewis Hamilton said, “Tough Question!”
He then went on to explain “Let’s take this season – I probably won’t win the title, but I feel the same pleasure in racing as when I started. Why should I stop?”
“Maybe one day I will not be able to take the pressure anymore, I’ll be tired, but that day has not yet come.”
A part of Hamilton’s motivation comes from the fact that he still has faith in the Mercedes guys that they can develop the car and make a come back very soon.
“I’ve been with these guys (Mercedes) for 10 years. I know how they work and the type of culture – no trials, we win and lose together. They are highly motivated. They give their souls to bring us back to the top” said Lewis Hamilton.
Now it is entirely up to the team back at Brackley if they can repay Hamilton’s faith. It will only be clear at the end of the season.
Read More: Sebastian Vettel to not appear on F1 TV shows: “I’m not going to be a TV pundit.”
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Riddhi Mondal
(1821 Articles Published)