Hamilton Opens Up About Considering His Options After Retirement

Saturday, 13 April 2024 at 22:30

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Lewis Hamilton is one of the greatest drivers in Formula One history, but even his career will eventually come to an end.

The seven-time World Champion is currently 39 years old, and he's the second oldest driver on the F1 grid, just behind his old rival Fernando Alonso, who plans to drive for more years, as he recently signed a contract extension.

Hamilton also signed a contract, but in his case, it was a contract with a new team - Ferrari, making a significant change late in his career that would see him leave Mercedes after 12 years.

The 39-year-old is aware that the clock is ticking and that sooner or later, he will face a decision not about his next team but about whether to continue or end his career.

That's a similar decision that many sporting greats faced as well, and that's why Hamilton had a conversation with the likes of Serena Williams and Michael Jordan to figure out how they felt, as he revealed to GQ.

"I’d spoken to so many amazing athletes, from Boris Becker to Serena Williams, even Michael Jordan. Talking to greats that I’ve met along the way, who are retired – or some that are still in competition – and the fear of what’s next, the lack of preparation for what’s next."

What he learned from those conversations was quite fascinating. For every athlete, the retirement topic is a special thing, and it may be impossible to pinpoint the perfect day for it. That's why some felt they retired too early, while others felt they continued for too long.

"A lot of them said: ‘I stopped too early.’ Or: ‘Stayed too long.’ ‘When it ended, I didn’t have anything planned.’ ‘My whole world came crashing down because my whole life has been about that sport.’"

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"Some of them were like: ‘I didn’t plan and it was a bit of a mess-up because I was really lost afterwards. There was such a hole. Such a void. And I had no idea how I was going to fill it. And I was in such a rush initially to try and fill it that you fill it with the wrong thing. And you make a few mistakes. And then eventually you find your way.’"

However, one thing was important for Hamilton: to find something outside of racing that interests him and build his passion around it so that he can continue doing that after his retirement.

"Some people took longer. Some people took shorter. But it just got my mind thinking about: OK, when I stop, how do I avoid that? And so I got serious about finding other things that I was passionate about. I think it’s gonna be film and fashion."