With speculation surrounding his future in the sport, Lewis Hamilton has revealed when he would consider stepping aside to allow a fresh driver to fill his seat on the grid.
Amid a challenging start to the season, Hamilton has yet to sign a contract extension with Mercedes beyond the end of 2023.
Heading to Melbourne for the Australian Grand Prix, the British driver has rejected a move to a rival team, stating that he continues to “feel very much at home in [the Mercedes] family.”
“I see myself with Mercedes until my last days, to be honest. I have amazing allies within the team, and great relationships here,” he said.
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“Just as long as I can continue to help drive the team forward, really contribute… if there’s ever going to be a point where I feel like I’m unable to do that, it’s time for a youngster to come in.”
2022 saw Hamilton record his first winless season since entering Formula One, while the first two races of 2023 have left him with back-to-back fifth place finishes.
Mercedes has been significantly off the pace of its rivals, with Red Bull dominating in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, while Aston Martin picked up the third place podiums through Fernando Alonso’s impressive drives.
The Silver Arrows currently find themselves locked in a neck and neck battle with Aston Martin in the Constructors’ Championship, as both sit on 38 points.
Hamilton has tried to remain optimistic, highlighting how the team managed to beat both Ferraris, holding them at bay to secure fourth and fifth in Jeddah.
“We beat the Ferraris, who have definitely started with a better package than we have,” Hamilton said, hinting at how Mercedes is securing the best performance out of the car.
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In Australia, Hamilton is looking forward to a “more exciting” race, hoping that the weather will play in their favour.
“I think I’m just hoping for some rain if I’m really honest. It would make it a little bit more exciting for us from my point of view.
“I’m just hoping the gap isn’t a second and I hope that we can just hit the ground running with the set-up.”