In an interview with Vanity Fair Magazine, Sir Lewis Hamilton has expressed his intent on racing beyond his current contract, which expires at the end of next season.
Hamilton’s change of heart on extending his career comes after a recent run of form, which has seen the Mercedes F1 Team driver claim five consecutive podium finishes.
After suffering some horrific results at the start of the season, including P13 at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, many wondered if Hamilton would retire from the sport at the end of the current season.
It’s easy to see why, Mercedes have spent the majority of the season so far on the back foot, after designing a car with serious aerodynamic floors.
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The Silver Arrows have suffered from horrendous porpoising this season, which saw the seven-time World Champion suffer agonising spinal pain at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
The pain Hamilton suffered was so extreme that he struggled to climb out of his W13 after the race.
Since then, Mercedes have turned a corner, and are now rapidly closing Scuderia Ferrari down in the Constructors’ Championship.
The German team’s improvements have allowed Hamilton to fight for consistent podium finishes, with just an elusive victory remaining to be taken by the team this season.
The Brit has also begun to finish above new team-mate George Russell more regularly, after spending the first eight races of the year some way off the former Williams Racing driver.
Should Mercedes’ rapid improvement continue into 2023, Hamilton may find himself in a position to fight for an eighth World Title, something he certainly won’t claim this year.
If he does claim an eighth World Championship next season, then there is a real chance the 37-year-old may fight for a ninth crown in 2024, with Hamilton still “loving driving”.
“I’ll be lying if I said that I hadn’t thought about extending,” Hamilton said in an interview with Vanity Fair.
“I’m still on the mission, I’m still loving driving, I’m still being challenged by it. So I don’t really feel like I have to give it up anytime soon.”