Lewis Hamilton Mulling F1 Sabbatical

After recently celebrating his 39th birthday, Lewis Hamilton has been contemplating his future in Formula 1, hinting at the possibility of retirement while also entertaining the idea of taking a break or making a return to the sport later on.

The negotiations over Hamilton’s contract were a topic of much speculation last year, culminating in a relatively short-term commitment that extends through the end of the current regulatory period, concluding in late 2025.

Hamilton’s impressive streak of championship victories came to a contentious end during the 2021 season finale, which saw a fierce competition with Max Verstappen. Since then, Verstappen has been on a successful run, securing three championships of his own.

In a conversation with the Dutch publication Formule 1, when prompted about Verstappen’s success, Hamilton’s response was supportive: “I would say ‘keep doing what you’re doing’. He’s doing great.”

Indeed, 26-year-old Verstappen is regarded as arguably the best driver in F1 alongside the sport’s oldest two characters – Hamilton (39) and Fernando Alonso (42).

“I think Max and Fernando have one thing in common with me,” Hamilton said. “We are all extremely competitive. We go to great lengths to achieve what we want.

“I can’t say much about what they are like as people though. I only know them from the Formula 1 world – it’s not like I go and visit them.”

Some believe Hamilton intends to quit Formula 1 as soon as he wins his eighth title – setting a clear record for the most titles won by any driver.

“I’ve never said an eighth title would be the end point,” the Briton smiles. “But I don’t know what comes next after Formula 1.

“I don’t necessarily feel like I’d want to stay active in Formula 1, but never say never. But I can’t imagine not driving anymore and still being in the pit box somewhere.

“I’d just be thinking ‘I could have stuck with it another year’. So it would probably be better to take a sabbatical and then see if I want to come back.”

Perhaps Hamilton’s closest-ever friend in F1, Sebastian Vettel, has been hinting recently about doing just that – coming back to the cockpit after a break.

“It didn’t surprise me, because you see it more often with retired drivers now,” Hamilton said. “Fernando came back, Michael Schumacher did too. I’ve also seen it with athletes from other sports and have spoken to a few about it.

“They said ‘You lose something you’ve done all your life. Suddenly it’s gone’. I can imagine it’s an incredible hole to fall into.”