Lewis Hamilton has said he can continue racing beyond 2023 and added that he is “still on duty” in Formula One.
Hamilton’s contract with Mercedes expires next year and is sixth in the championship standings after a challenging season, 112 points behind leader Max Verstappen.
There has been speculation that the seven-time world champion will retire when his Mercedes contract ends, but Hamilton admitted he was thinking of extending his stay in F1 in an interview with Vanity Fair.
“I would be lying if I said I haven’t thought of an extension,” Hamilton said.
“I’m still on a mission, I still love driving, I’m still challenged by it. So I don’t really feel like I have to give it up anytime soon.”
Hamilton, 37, also spoke during last season’s controversial finale, when Verstappen beat the British driver to the title following race director Michael Masi’s decision to only allow mid-cars two competitors unfurled themselves after the Safety Car was introduced.
“You see things start to unfold and my worst fears come to life,” Hamilton said. “I thought, there’s no way they’re going to trick me out of this. No way. It’s not going to happen. Definitely not.
“I don’t know if I can really put into words the feeling I’ve had. I remember sitting there and I couldn’t believe it. And realizing I had to take off my belt, I had to get out. There, I had to climb out of this, I had to get my strength back. I had no energy. And it was one of the hardest moments, I have to say, that I’ve had in a long time.
“I know what happened. I know what decisions have been made and why. Yes, I know that something is not right.”
