Lewis Hamilton has largely retracted Formula 1 retirement comments from earlier this week, declaring the sport remains his utmost priority for now.
In an interview with FIA magazine Auto, the three-time world champion claimed he had the freedom to choose when he had, had enough of F1 and didn’t rule out the possibility of that being the end of this year.
However, speaking ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the Briton, who currently sits second in the Drivers Championship, played down that prospect by denying it was a consideration.
“I don’t even remember discussing that [possibility of retiring at end of current season]. It’s not something I am thinking about,” he claimed, “I do not think I am in a place where I have to move aside for a youngster coming through right now.
“I think the dream for lots of sportsmen and women is to go out on top, but then you can say a lot of people stop before their time. I haven’t decided I want to stop before my time at the moment I think.
Hamilton would admit he has aspirations away from the grid but is very happy with the current arrangement with Mercedes that allows him to enjoy some non-F1 activities during his off-time.
“There are things I think if I had the whole year, there’s so much I could achieve, so many things I could tick off the box on the bucket list. But then I would look back and think that I am not racing in a Formula One car.
“There is a time and place for lots of different things, and prioritising is important and choosing the right times. Nobody knows, only God knows when the time is right for certain things but right now, I am very very fortunate to be within this time, I have an amazing team around, I have a great boss who enables me time to have part-time for other interests which keep me sharp.”