planetf1.com

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/hami ... f1-984187/

I've often speculated that Hamilton won't grow old in the sport but this is the first time he has indicated that may be true.

Hamilton says he is thinking about retiring at the end of 2019 when his current contract expires. He would be 34.

Cue certain people being offended that you're discussing the possibility of Hamilton retiring early...

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WTF is he on about?

Lewis just put these boxes in that van and take em round the corner mate, and pick us up some coffee on the way back...

'Starting at the bottom and working your way up in a company'.

Really?

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I imagine he means a chosen career path rather than a career path most people may fall in to but not choose. He's got too big and powerful a network to go in at the ground floor, he'll be meaning they need to learn something new from scratch.

I don't think he'll retire then, he also references he'll have plenty time after 40 and he has the financial stability to do what he pleases, really.

I guess if you just look upon F1 as being a job that consumes your life then retirement can look a better option, you need the desire and is he losing that?

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I think he's musing, and people are reading far too much in to it.

There will come a point when he will think, 'what more do I have to prove?'

If the Mercedes is not the best car on the grid over the next few years that time will come quicker.

I agree. But I also think if he has another couple of good seasons he could be close enough to Schumi's 7/91 stats that I'm not sure I could turn down the chance to become (wins/WDC-wise anyway) the greatest of all time.

I agree, one more dominant-ish season and those records will become realistically beatable; pass those numbers and he will guaranteed of F1 sporting immortality.

That can be a hell of a motivator.

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I suspect he’s just having fun with the interviewer. Don’t see him retiring as long as he has a competitive car with a chance of winning titles. But if he gets a car that’s not a front runner I do suspect he’ll walk.

maybe he will retire if the merc is complete rubbish in the next 2 years ,but I think he has his eye on the stats and if the merc is at the top still allowing him to rack up more records , then he is just teasing and playing with journalists who are desperate for stories in the off season and looking to earn a living ,so if half a story erupts , its big news

TBF it's a good way of telling Merc he may not stay so make sure contract offered is a good one, without sounding as disloyal as he would if he said he was considering moving teams.

Hardly puts him in a strong negotiating position if he comes out and says he is desperate to resign for another 3 years.

I think he is keen to prove he is more that just a multiple WDC. He already seems to want to show he has interests outside F1. It wouldn't surprise me if he became a success in another career unrelated to motorsport.

I believe you're mistaken. His contract ends after next season; not 2019. My guess is that he will sign with Mercedes for 2 more years (2019 and 2020). Beyond that, it's hard to say. Possibly one more deal. It's hard to walk away when you're winning and I don't see Mercedes becoming noncompetitive in the near future. 2021 brings uncertainty and he might not want to take a chance on leaving with a 2009-like season. Based on the article he doesn't seem too concerned with breaking the records so I don't think he'll stick around just for that.

I must be getting old. I find it very strange to think that Lewis Hamilton is reaching retirement lol.

I think that Hamilton sends out a lot of mixed messages so it's hard to know exactly what he is thinking, I can't help feeling that like most things this is basically Hamilton being asked do you have thoughts on retirement and then he's going through all his thoughts on the matter.

It was only a couple of months ago that Hamilton was talking about signing another contract with Mercedes.

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He and Vettel can probably retire any time and walk away with their heads held high. They have achieved almost everything there is to achieve other than pure records. Maybe Vettel will want to win a championship with Ferrari but that would be it.

Hamilton has shown no desire of wanting to win with any other team as such and he has 4 titles under his belt. It wont shock me one bit if these 2 drivers retire after their existing contracts run out. That will be 2019 for Hamilton and 2020 for Vettel.

And life goes on, there are plenty of young drivers coming though and some old dogs with plenty of speed in F1 right now. As much as I would miss the drivers which I consider to be from my generation, it wont be end of the day. Maybe it helps if you are like me and more of a team guy than a driver guy.

I think yes for Hamilton but not Vettel. Vettel is always saying how lucky he is to be an F1 driver and how amazing it is to drive these cars. He never talks about stopping. Hamilton always hints at moving on.

Vettel is a father though. Too how many children is a bit of a mystery as is family are never seen but he is thought to have two daughters. He may want to spend more time with his family at some point.

Hamilton trying to prepare for life outside of F1?

 

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No it looks more like an opportunity to mock Hamilton.

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I think it's funny tbf.

I think you've just proven the point being made?

How does someone retiring make it an opportunity to mock him??? I just don't get this.

lewis is playing games for those journalists who are desperate for a story and who also believe anything that resembles an almost story
this way he gets the last laugh, and gets some amusement from the desperation of the F1 journalists who are gullable

just think about it -would he leave merc who always give him the equipment and the possibilities to win more championships to another formula where might not be in that position

I will do!

Like Hamilton is seriously looking at racing in FE?

If I was shown that clip I wouldn't know what year it was either, who watches FE anyway?

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2014: Champion
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What point would that be?

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PF1 Pick 10 Competition

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2017: 9th Place
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You don't think that the post I was referring to was mocking Hamilton, and how exactly did it relate to him retiring?

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PF1 Pick 10 Competition

2013: 5th Place
2014: Champion
2015: 3rd Place
2016: 4th Place
2017: 9th Place
2018: Currently 2nd

Wins: Canada 2018, Abu Dhabi 2017
Podiums: (6)

Were does Hamilton say he will race in another formula and how would that relate to him retiring to try something completely new which he has said would be away from motorsport?

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2016: 4th Place
2017: 9th Place
2018: Currently 2nd

Wins: Canada 2018, Abu Dhabi 2017
Podiums: (6)

No, it was most certainly not mocking Hamilton, rather made towards his diehard fans that have to defend him at all times. It's clear to see and I think you missed the whole point

Don't make a fool of yourself, people do watch Formula E. The HK E-Prix was far more entertaining than the Abu Dhabi GP by the way.

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It's in the line above you. You're clearly taking objection to the topic. There is no need to go into defence mode whenever Hamilton is discussed

It's still funny. And FE is good fun to watch.

I can't see him retiring until he's either in a bad car for a season or two or is completely out of Vettel's reach stats wise. I think he could be in the game for longer than people think.

Certainly think he's got another couple of contracts first and won't retire before 36/7 whatever cars he's got. He's a sharp cookie and be knows he'll be a long time retired and I think he's more interested in breaking records and leading stats than he let on previously.

He's hinted a little at it in recent times and the Merc boss made a comment about stats or records and Lewis's interest in it I believe (I'm paraphrasing heavily, I can't recall the exact wording sorry) so I think he'll be around for a good while yet thankfully.

2-3 years time we could have a grid with Lewis,Seb,Max,Dan,Alo,Leclerc,Ocon,Sainz,Vandoorne and Norris all in pretty competitive shape. Ideally at the 5 biggest budget teams but maybe that's a step too far for the wish list but something like this for 2019/20 would do me..

Mercedes-Ham/Oco
Ferrari-Seb/Lec
Red Bull-Max/Dan
Renault-Alo/Sai
McLaren-Van/Nor

I may have strayed a little O/T sorry.

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"Clark came through at the end of the first lap so far ahead that we in the pits were convinced that the rest of the field must have been wiped out in an accident."
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Part of the reason I like Hamilton is because he's a bit of a bad donkey non-conformist. Part of the reason I don't like him is he went to fashion show last night instead of the FIA hall of fame induction. I still like him but I feel to be an all time great, you have to be an ambassador for your sport or else it seems like you do it for the money and fame.

https://www.grandprix247.com/2017/12/05 ... l-of-fame/

And rather bizarrely, he'll do a lot more for the sport of F1 going to fashion shows than he will an FIA award ceremony.

but isn't going to a fashion show instead of the FIA event being non-conformist?!

Don't see that, really. How will that raise F1's profile?