Hamilton Retirement Queries Pester Champ

Ever since Nico Rosberg quit Formula 1 days after winning the 2016 title, former teammate Hamilton has been bombarded with questions about Following the German’s footsteps. After winning his fourth World title this season, the Brit is talks with Mercedes about extending his contract beyond 2018. However, that doesn’t mean there won’t be whispers of a Hamilton retirement some time during that new deal.

Hamilton said “My thoughts about it change like the weather. It’s about trying to find the balance. I’ve currently got another year with the team and I do want to continue, but I’m at that point where there’s that nagging question: ‘If you leave you’re gonna miss it – next year, five years from now, you’ll miss it.’ I was talking to my best friend the other day about things that I look forward to, like living in one place, getting a routine, seeing my friends and family. Each year I stay in the sport I delay those things. But from 40 onwards there’s so much time for it.

He spoke of his aunt who died from cancer. On her last day she said: “I’ve worked every day with the plan of stopping one day and doing all these different things [and] then I ran out of time.” Hamilton admits that he always has that in the back of his mind. He prefers to live his life day by day and try to live it to the maximum. He wants to keep racing but he does have other passions in life that he wishes to pursue.

Earlier in the 2017 season, he was again questioned about the possibility of a Hamilton retirement from Formula One. He dismissed the suggestion, saying that he still had a good 5-6 years left in him. He also admitted that if he ever retired, he would not be seen in a commentary booth.