Lewis Hamilton‘s set his sights on racing into his 40s with Mercedes as he closes in on completing his first Formula 1 season without a win ahead of the 2022 Mexican Grand Prix.
Hamilton has signed with the Brackley team until the end of 2023, when he’ll be 38, but has revealed his intention to continue in F1 beyond that.
Indicating he feels better than ever, despite the Brit taking a step back with Mercedes in 2022 after eight straight championship years for the pairing.
“I think it’s really about a state of mind,” Hamilton told the press. “I don’t feel old.
“But if you look in a mirror and you tell yourself every day that you’re old then it’s probably where you’re going to be and how you’re going to feel.
“You look up all my starts I’ve had the best starts of everyone all year, collectively, my concentration levels haven’t been a problem. And also, there’s things you work on, you can work on in the background to keep those sharp.”
My car is my baby
At the peak of his dominance with Mercedes, it was rumoured Hamilton could walk away from F1 while he’s still competitive.
He’s launched a clothing line with Tommy Hilfiger, recorded a track with Christina Aguilera, invested in a meat-free burger chain and the Denver Broncos NFL team, and started his Mission 44 campaign.
He was criticised in 2018 for attending a fashion show in New York in the week before the Singapore Grand Prix, but followed that up with arguably his best-ever qualifying performance to take a stunning, Senna-esque pole.
Rather than viewing his off-track interests with competing with his success in the cockpit, he said he feels he can manage the two to build him as a person and a driver.
“I think this whole narrative has been lingering around about winding towards the end,” Hamilton said.
“I think that was something for me, like being a racing driver is a great thing, but I was trying to see how am I going to grow beyond this role?
“I get asked every day to do so many different things and I’m able to push back and say no, if I know that that’s going to affect my preparation or have any possible impact on my race weekend it’s a big no. This is what I’m focused on.
“I know what’s being overloaded, I know what’s being distracting and I’ll never that get to that point so it’s just about balancing, I say no to so many things.
“I’m not in a relationship, I don’t have any kids. My car is my baby at the moment. That’s what I’m cherishing and trying to put more energy into.”
