25 January 2024 , 19:57
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Lewis Hamilton is open to working in Formula 1 after he retires from driving - but admits he may need some time away before coming back.
The seven-time world champion has signed up for at least two more seasons with Mercedes. Even by the end of that contract, although he will be almost 41, there is no reason right now to doubt that he will be in a position to continue racing beyond that.
Hamilton harbours dreams of at least another championship success and doesn't rule out continuing even if he achieves that. But when he does eventually stop racing, the Brit thinks he will likely need a break.
"I never said that an eighth title would be the endpoint. And I don't know what follows after driving in Formula 1," he told Formule1.nl. "I don't necessarily feel the desire to remain active in Formula 1 any longer but, as I said before, 'never say never'. I can't imagine not riding anymore and still being in a pit box somewhere.
"I would probably think, '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."
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As we have seen in the past, though, a retirement from F1 does not necessarily mean we will never see a driver in the sport again. Fernando Alonso is an obvious example, having walked away after a brutal second spell with McLaren only to return with Alpine.
Michael Schumacher also famously returned for a three-year stint with Mercedes, despite having retired from Ferrari at the end of 2006. Sebastian Vettel, who walked away from F1 at the end of 2022, has already admitted since that a comeback is not impossible.
Hamilton was not at all shocked to hear his former rival and good friend say that. "It didn't surprise me, because you see it more often with retired drivers," he added.
"Fernando Alonso came back, Michael Schumacher too. I have also seen it with athletes from other sports and have spoken to a few about it. They said, 'You're losing something you've done all your life. Suddenly it's gone.' Then you can miss it and I can imagine that it is an incredible hole to fall into."
But before Hamilton can truly think about life after F1, he has to deal with the task at hand. Getting the better of Max Verstappen will be no small task and, although there has been bad blood between them in the past, the Brit has nothing but admiration for his rival's achievements. "Keep doing what you're doing. He's doing great," he said.