© Sam Bloxham for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix ltd.
Lewis Hamilton says in Formula 1 “you’re being scrutinised all the time” and, taking into account his accolades, he can “only lose at this point in life”.
In 2023 Lewis Hamilton signed a new two-year contract with Mercedes, which means he will still be racing in Formula 1 when he is 40.
In the past the Briton said he does not intend to race into his forties, and he now explains he has considered retirement in the past.
“What you’ve got to learn is you should never say never,” Hamilton said.
“But at that point, I definitely didn’t think I’d be continuing. They are frickin’ long seasons. It’s a long time away from everyone. I’ve been doing it 16 years. It’s gruelling.
“There’s a lot of glitz and glamour and lots of positives but it’s by no means easy to stay at your best, to stay committed, to keep up the training, to continue to deliver. It’s a lot of pressure.”
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Lewis also said he is in a lose-lose situation when it comes to the media at this point in his life.
“You’re being scrutinised all the time and I’m in a place in my life where there’s no way I can win. If I win a race, it’s: ‘Oh, he’s a seven-time world champion, you got 103 wins.’
“If I don’t do well, it’s… I can only lose at this point in life. So for sure there was a period of time when I was questioning whether I wanted to go through that.”
However, his love of racing ultimately prevailed.
“I still love driving, I still love getting into the car… When they start the car up and you have all those people around you, the crew, you go down the pit-lane, I still get this smile on my face the same as I did the first day I drove,” the Briton concluded.
