Seven-time F1 world champion Hamilton has revealed in an interview with select media including Autosport in Austin that he plans to sign a new F1 contract in the coming months.
Hamilton’s existing Mercedes F1 contract expires at the end of the 2023 season, but he has made it clear he is looking to continue beyond that point as he goes in search of a record eighth world title.
Asked Thursday in Mexico how long he intended to stay in F1, Hamilton replied: “I don’t put a limit, to be honest.
“I plan to enter into a multi-year agreement with my team. I really, really don’t know what the next five years [hold]I think we’re still trying to work on that.
“There are a lot of great things that are being put in place, like I just launched a [film] production company this week. But I feel good, like in mind and body.
“I think there are more things to accomplish together. I don’t know [how long].”
Hamilton joked that if former team-mate and rival Fernando Alonso leaves F1, “maybe I’ll think twice because then I’ll be the oldest driver!”
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W13
Photo by: Erik Junius
The 37-year-old Hamilton has shown few signs of slowing down of late, even through a tough campaign that has seen Mercedes struggle to challenge pacemakers Red Bull and Ferrari.
Hamilton has three more races this year to avoid the first winless campaign of his F1 career, having equaled Michael Schumacher’s record for 15 seasons with a win in 2021.
Hamilton felt it was “difficult to say” how this year’s struggles with Mercedes had impacted his motivation, but made it clear his passion and determination to turn things around remained as strong as ever.
“Each year, you have to ask yourself what you are ready to give, [to] give as much if not more than when you started,” Hamilton said.
“Are you willing to give your full time to prepare, train, work with the team and deliver? If there’s a time when I come in and I’m just coasting, that’s when, first, I don’t belong here and I don’t deserve a position here, and then I should stop.
“I wonder if I am able to do this and if I want to do this, and the answer is yes.
“Obviously we have a championship that we have to recover, and I like the mission and this challenge with my team.
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W13
Photo by: Erik Junius
Hamilton and Mercedes worked hard throughout the season trying to figure out the issues they were facing with the W13 car, in particular the rebound issue it faced at the start of the year.
The team’s developments helped him move closer to the front, allowing Hamilton to come within seven laps of victory last weekend in Austin only to lose to Max Verstappen in the closing stages.
Hamilton credited the work everyone at Mercedes has done this year, saying it was “beautiful to see the journey everyone has made individually” as well as collectively as a team.
“We blended in, pooled together, got closer to each other, were more open and, with a room really full of men more often, they showed their vulnerability more,” he said.
“It’s been a really interesting process, and I’m grateful to be part of it. I can’t wait for us to get back to success, to finally get that victory and get that championship.
“It’s going to make all those tough times interesting.”
