Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Sir Lewis Hamilton has likened himself to Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James and retired NFL quarterback Tom Brady with regard to their longevity in their respective sports.
Hamilton has continually been in the discussion as per his future in F1 as his contract with Mercedes runs out at the end of 2023.
The 38-year-old British driver’s next move, especially as Mercedes have struggled pace-wise since last year, has also been a hot topic as it has denied him the elusive eighth world championship that would make him the most successful driver in F1 history.
Hamilton has however brushed off claims of his career coming to an end, rather asserting he is still at his prime.
“I’m not at the end of my career, I’m not in the downhill slope of my career. I’m in my prime,” the former McLaren driver told ESPN.
“It all depends on how hard I want to work and keep myself in my prime, in terms of physical and mental capability.
“If you look at LeBron [James], if you look at Tom Brady, they have shown that it can be sustained for as long as you are dedicated enough to put the energy and time in.
“Right now, I don’t plan on changing, I only plan on adding to the drive and the motivation and to being better. I’m massively driven.”
Hamilton revealed he had previously considered ending his career with another F1 team, particularly the sport’s most successful, Scuderia Ferrari, a team he has constantly been linked with.
The Stevenage-born driver however reiterated he is committed to continuing racing with Mercedes beyond 2023.
“I’d be lying if I said I’d never thought about ending my career anywhere else,” Hamilton continued.
“I started at McLaren, I’d like to think I’ll always be a part of the McLaren family, I started there when I was 13 years old [as a junior driver], so I thought about what it would look like if I was at McLaren one day.
“I thought about and watched the Ferrari drivers on the screens at the track and of course you wonder what it would be like to be in red…
“But then I go to my team, to Mercedes, and this is my home. I’m happy where I am. I haven’t signed a contract yet, but we are working on one.”
Let's get this party started… ???? pic.twitter.com/A7CJ5Dp31c
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) May 3, 2023
Hamilton heads to the Miami Grand Prix this weekend sitting in fourth position in the drivers’ championship, 45 points behind leader and current world champion Max Verstappen.
