Lewis Hamilton has offered his biggest hint yet that his next contract, currently being discussed with Mercedes, could well be his last before retiring from Formula 1.
The topic of the world champion and retirement has been ever-present in 2017, following the shock decision of his former teammate Nico Rosberg to hang up his helmet after the 2016 finale.
Throughout he has maintained his love for F1 has been reinvigorated by the battle with Sebastian Vettel this season and the likelihood of future fights with the likes of Max Verstappen, however, now 32 and known to have aspirations away from the sport, the vision of owners Liberty Media appears to go against what Hamilton wants.
“I think about what is ahead of me and I have spoken to those who have retired early, those who retired late and everyone says to stay in as long as you can but that’s not going to happen,” the Mercedes driver was quoted by the Daily Express.
“The seasons are getting longer and longer and you see the things I do outside, which take a lot of my energy and time. I’m enjoying what I’m doing now, I enjoy being with this team, I love racing and I still feel at the moment I’m driving at my best.
“So while the car is in this form of rules until 2021 at least, I think that’s going to be the window I’m still here,” he claimed. “Who knows? Maybe in 2021, I’ll hand the baton over to [Mercedes junior] George [Russell].
“He’ll be there anyway before then but yeah, I’m going to keep going.”
One thing that is for sure is we won’t see Hamilton wearing Ferrari red before his career ends despite occasional links to Maranello, with the four-time champion wanting to see out his stint in F1 with the one company that has been present throughout.
“I cannot imagine moving to Ferrari and I do not think that will change,” he told Stuttgarter Zeitung newspaper. “I have been connected to Mercedes for 13 years, which is longer than many other employees and longer than any other driver in F1.
“I am proud that I work for them and I hope I can finish my career here,” he added.
His relationship with the German manufacturer moved to a new level after becoming the team leader so to speak, increasing his interaction with the engineers and helping to push development.
Hamilton is thriving in that role, however, and is ready to take on even stiffer competition from Ferrari, Red Bull and maybe elsewhere next season.
“The greater the pressure on me, the more critical the situation, the better it is for me,” he claimed. “Mercedes is in great shape right now and I don’t see anything that could change that.”