Lewis Hamilton explains how close he came to quitting F1 after “long year”
Lewis Hamilton explains why he almost quit Formula 1 after ‘a long time’.
In August this year, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton ended speculation about his F1 future by signing a new two-year contract with Mercedes.
Lewis Hamilton has candidly admitted he almost quit Formula 1 this season before deciding to sign a new contract with Mercedes.
The 38-year-old is on the longest winless streak of his career, having failed to take the checkered flag since the final race of the 2021 season in Saudi Arabia. Despite finishing third in this season’s Drivers’ Championship, the perception remains that Hamilton and his team are fighting against the tide after struggling to adapt to the sport’s new rules era.
There was a gap of 341 points between the British driver and world champion Max Verstappen. Hamilton’s struggles led to speculation over his future at the Silver Arrows, who eventually signed him on a two-year contract worth around £100m in August.
But before the deal was completed, the seven-time world champion was unsure whether he would continue the deal. In an interview with the BBC, he admitted:
“In the end, when you go through such a difficult time, there are always times when you think, ‘Is it me or is it the car?’
\”\’Do you still have it? Is that person missing? I’m only human. If anyone in the world says it doesn’t exist, they deny it. We are all human.”
Hamilton remains tied with Michael Schumacher for the record number of wins and that seems to be a motivating factor for him to keep winning. He vowed to continue working to ensure Mercedes can compete with leaders Red Bull despite the current speed gap. “Because you missed it, you know? When the magic happens, when everything comes together – the car, you, the spark – it’s special. This is exactly what you are looking for.
Hamilton has responded strongly to Christian Horner’s claims that Hamilton’s representatives have approached his team about a possible move this month. The ex-McLaren driver also believes he will switch to Ferrari.
I don’t know where this story came from. I mean, I know it came from Christian,” said an outraged Hamilton. “I don’t understand what he’s talking about because as far as I know, no one on our team has ever spoken to him. I haven’t spoken to Christian in years.”
