Lewis Hamilton reckons he would relatively make certain than sorry when the solar begins to set on his profession in F1, the Briton suggesting he’d take a sabbatical from the game earlier than making a everlasting name on retirement.
Hamilton, who is ready to embark at 39 on his eighteenth season amongst motorsport’s elite, has loved a long life that has introduced him 103 wins and 7 world titles, a file he shares with fellow F1 legend Michael Schumacher.
Alas, the previous two seasons have been a stark distinction to the unimaginable success Hamilton has loved all through his profession, with a succession of campaigns marred in struggles linked to Mercedes’ difficulties in adapting to the game’s floor impact laws launched in 2022.
That 12 months, Hamilton’s title protection ended abruptly and whereas his 2023 season was barely higher, he was nonetheless unable to problem for race wins, not to mention for the title.
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Regardless of the challenges, the Briton continues to be a fierce competitor, pushed by his ardour for the game, who will stay on the grid not less than till the conclusion of his present contract with Mercedes which runs till the tip of 2025.
Whereas an eighth world title stays a main goal for Hamilton, he insists it’s not an finish in itself. For now, retirement isn’t in his plans, and he admits that when the sensation of calling it a day does creep in, he may simply take to the sidelines and ponder his destiny for a 12 months.
“I’ve by no means stated an eighth title can be the endpoint,” the Briton instructed Formule 1.
“However I don’t know what comes subsequent after Formulation 1. I don’t essentially really feel like I’d need to keep energetic in Formulation 1 however by no means say by no means.
“However I can’t think about not driving anymore and nonetheless being within the pit field someplace. I’d simply be considering: ‘I may have caught with it one other 12 months.’
“So it could in all probability be higher to take a sabbatical after which see if I need to come again.”
Living proof, Schumacher and Fernando Alonso each retired from the game earlier than coming again and giving it one other go, whereas Hamilton’s former arch-rival Sebastian Vettel has additionally thought of a return to the fray.
“It didn’t shock me, since you see it extra usually with retired drivers now. Fernando got here again, Michael Schumacher did too,” he commented.
“I’ve additionally seen it with athletes from different sports activities and have spoken to some about it. They stated: ‘You lose one thing you’ve finished all of your life, immediately it’s gone.’ I can think about it’s an unimaginable gap to fall into.”
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