Lewis Hamilton says he remains as happy as ever in Formula 1 and will only retire when that smile is no longer there.
Currently, the seven-time world champion is yet to re-sign at Mercedes for 2021 and beyond, although confirmation of a new contract is considered a matter of when not if.
However, it is well known that Hamilton also has big ambitions outside of F1, whether it be his fashion collaboration with Tommy Hilfiger or his social activism for equality and climate change.
And while the 36-year-old acknowledges those passions, he also insists racing remains his biggest motivation for now.
“You’ve got to find what you’re passionate about and what you love doing, and me personally, in my journey, there was a point where it [F1] just got too serious,” Hamilton explained on a ‘Formula for Success’ podcast.
“We only have one life. You have to enjoy what you’re doing. You’ve got to find happiness every day in what you are doing and I think that has been really important for me to be able to live in the moment.
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“Yes, it’s a competitive space that I’m in, but damn when I get in that car, put down the visor and the team start up the car to leave the garage, I have the biggest smile. Even today, after all these years of racing.
“If there’s ever a day that that doesn’t happen, I don’t get that smile, I know that it’s done and I need to move on to something else.
“But it doesn’t mean, just because you’re good at one thing, and you’re successful at one thing, it doesn’t mean you can’t have also other things that also add to that. So I try to find other things that I’m passionate about.”
Last year, Hamilton also secured his place as F1’s statistical greatest of all time, equalling Michael Schumacher with most championships and surpassing the German’s win record, with 95 currently to his name.
And Lewis admits as time passes, the taste of victory has only gotten sweeter.
“I think I’ve always been someone who has hated to lose, but somehow – I can’t really explain how – I’ve managed to find myself on the other side,” he said.
“I love getting to the end of that race first and the happiness of that lasts a lot longer than it ever did before.”
Given the dominance Mercedes have enjoyed since 2014, however, there are of course many who believe Hamilton’s success is only due to his car.
But back in 2012, when Hamilton was considering his future at McLaren, he admits there was no guarantee his career would play out as it did.
“For sure there was moments when I was like, geez, I don’t know when I’m going to win again. I had to really analyse a lot of the pros and cons,” he was quoted by RaceFans.
“But for me, taking the risk [of joining Mercedes]: Senna used to say ‘if you’re not going for a gap, you’re no longer racing driver’. I think if you’re not taking risks in life, then you’re standing still.
“So I could have stayed there. In hindsight, you look at if I had stayed, I wouldn’t have another championship to my name. I would still be a one-time world champion after 14 years.”