© Steve Etherington for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.
Lewis Hamilton provides an update on his Mercedes contract talks and says “retiring as a world champion is a dream that every athlete has – and so do I”.
In a year-end interview with Sport Bild, Lewis Hamilton was asked if he has already set his sights on his eighth world title.
“Not now,” the Briton said.
“I’m really looking forward to the Christmas break and spending time with my sister’s kids.”
Lewis’ contract with Mercedes expires at the end of 2023, so he was asked if his contract extension talks have already started.
“We haven’t started with that yet. So far we haven’t had the time, we’ve been on the road for two months at a time.”
Asked if he is planning a long-term stay in Formula 1, Lewis said:
“Sometimes you wake up and have this feeling ‘I don’t want to do this anymore’, and sometimes you wake up and think ‘I can still do other things my whole life, there is definitely more I want to achieve’.
“It won’t be a terribly long time now, but I’ll definitely be staying.”
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The Briton was then asked if he wants to retire as world champion one day?
“I think retiring as a world champion is a dream that every athlete has – and so do I.”
It was then put to Lewis that Sebastian Vettel retired because he found that F1 and motorsport were no longer the most important things in his life. Is he too nearing that point?
“Motorsport isn’t the most important thing for me either,” the Briton answered.
“When I was a kid maybe it was. Probably also when I got into Formula 1.
“Ever since I was in my 30s, I’ve realized that it’s all about making memories. With friends, with family.
“It’s about key memories with the people who mean the most to you. That’s what I focus on and [I] plan things to create those moments.
“Because that’s what you take with you in the long run,” Hamilton concluded.
