At the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Japan on Sunday (7 a.m. CEST, ServusTV), he no longer plays a role in the title race for this season. But Lewis Hamilton does not want to be content with the role of passenger in the future. “I’m absolutely convinced that he can win his eighth title with us,” says his longtime intimate, Mercedes Motorsport Director Toto Wolff.
With seven titles each, Hamilton and Michael Schumacher still share the role of record champion. The 37-year-old Hamilton only told Wolff last week that he still had five more years in him and wanted to continue driving. Hamilton’s contract expires at the end of next year, and the coming season will be his 17th. “He’s not going anywhere else and if we can deliver a competitive car and he can fight for wins, he’ll win more titles,” said Wolff.
This season, Mercedes did not manage to provide its drivers with a suitable car for their title ambitions. Hamilton has not been able to win a Grand Prix so far and has to watch as an extra as Max Verstappen in the Red Bull on Sunday in Suzuka, Japan, becomes world champion for the second time in a row.
“Retirement is still a long way off for him. But he asks himself: ‘Am I still satisfied with my performance?’ And if he decides he’s not, he’ll be the first to say it was,” Wolff said.
For the 50-year-old, it is clear that Hamilton will continue to drive at Mercedes after 2023. Age is not a problem, said Wolff, citing Fernando Alonso. The 41-year-old Spaniard is not thinking about retiring either and will be replacing Sebastian Vettel at Aston Martin next season.
Is veteran Ricciardo coming?
With Daniel Ricciardo, another veteran is just around the corner at Mercedes. The Australian, who has been in Formula 1 since 2012, will no longer get a contract with McLaren. He is now being discussed as a reserve and test pilot with the Silver Arrows.
Source: Nachrichten
