Coming second in the constructor cup is not something Lewis Hamilton is satisfied with. The 7-time world champion is tied with the legendary Michael Schumacher for having the most world championships won in the sport. And while the world awaits the record-breaking 8th victory, Hamilton dropped news about taking a possible sabbatical.
Coming second in the constructor cup is not something Lewis Hamilton is satisfied with. The 7-time world champion is tied with the legendary Michael Schumacher for having the most world championships won in the sport. And while the world awaits the record-breaking 8th victory, Hamilton dropped news about taking a possible sabbatical.
The one thing that is constant though, is Lewis’ drive for racing. Previously, Hamilton mentioned not wanting to race after the age of forty, and with him being one year away from that mark, fans are sad to even consider the Mercedes legend retiring. However, neither the age of 40 nor breaking the record of winning 8 championships are the reasons for him considering retiring.
The talk about Lewis Hamilton‘s retirement surfaced when he was interviewed by Formule1.nl. In the interview, the Briton was asked a question about what he had said to the magazine years ago. The interviewer reminded Hamilton, “A few years ago you told me that after your forty you don’t want to race anymore.” To this Hamilton gave a snappy response and said, “And that’s still possible. I don’t have a fixed plan for the future. I still feel fit and still enjoy what I do. I have now learned that you should never say ‘never’ in life.”
For the rest of the interview, Hamilton reflects on his Formula 1 debut in 2007 at the age of 22. He describes himself as emotionally immature at that time, still discovering the world. Hamilton expresses surprise at still feeling the same love for the sport after such a long time in Formula 1. He recognizes that there might come a point when he’s had enough.l
Hamilton said, “I have no set plan for the future. I still feel fit and still enjoy what I do. I have now learned that you should never say ‘never’ in life.” He mentioned that even winning the World Champion title for the 8th time might not quench his thirst for the sport. While talking to Formula 1 magazine, the Mercedes champion said, “I never said that an eighth title would be the endpoint. And I don’t know what follows after driving in Formula One.”
While Hamilton is considering retirement, he made a statement that has brought hope to the hearts of fans. Although it is clear that Hamilton can’t stand to leave F1, he has started considering the end of his career. But that won’t come suddenly, as he has something in mind before actually taking the leap to retire.
Hamilton might take a sabbatical to test his time away from the track
Lewis Hamilton is contemplating the idea of taking a sabbatical from motorsport once he concludes his Formula 1 career. While talking to Formula 1 Magazine, he said, “I could stick with it for another year, then I can still participate.’ So it would probably be better to take a sabbatical and then see if I would still like to come back.”
Despite turning 39 in January, Hamilton may not be motivated to retire solely upon achieving an eighth World Championship, surpassing Michael Schumacher’s record. He shares how he struggles to envision a life without racing and considers a sabbatical as an ideal approach. This way, he can assess whether he misses the sport and determine his interest in entering a new racing formula.
Hamilton suggests that taking a sabbatical would allow him to gauge his feelings about racing post-F1. He wants to explore if he still has the passion to compete. The idea is to take a break, assess the absence of racing, and then decide whether he wants to return or explore other opportunities.
The champion has discussed a scenario where, after taking a sabbatical, he might consider returning for another year if he still feels the desire to participate in motorsport. That being said, are you ready to say goodbye to the most achieving racer of this generation? Share your thoughts with us below.
