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Hamilton Says Next Contract Could Be His Last in F1

09:48, 15 Mar 2018

byNicolás Quarles van Ufford

33-year-old Lewis Hamilton has hinted that his next contract after the 2018 season could be his last one in the Formula One. The Brit is currently in the last year of his second three-year deal at Mercedes, which he still hasn't extended for after the coming season.

Both Hamilton and Mercedes have already said that they're working on the contract extension, which was originally planned to be done before the season kicks off next week in Melbourne. This is very unlikely to happen now, Hamilton admitted.

"We started the talks over the winter, and I kept saying that I'd come back to it, and then we picked it up again, and I said I'd come back to it again. Look, it's really not my priority at this moment in time."

"I'm very calm about it, I don't feel pressure from myself or from the team. I want to continue so I'll have to sign a contract at some point, but I won't do it when people tell me to. I'll do it when it's ready."

The man from Stevenage is expected to be signing his third three-year deal with the Silver Arrows, which would tie him up until he's almost 37 years old. Hamilton feels like he could compete until he's 40, but admits that he isn't sure that he wants to.

"I could stay a couple of more years, but would I have the same hunger I have now heading into the season? I can't tell you."

"I'm super competitive, and I'll still be competitive when I'm 80 years old, trying to beat my grandchildren at things. It's just who I am."

Hamilton currently sits on four championships and is the bookmakers' favourite for the 2018 title. He could become the third driver in history to have at least five titles after Michael Schumacher (7) and Juan Manuel Fangio (5).