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LEWIS HAMILTON has revealed just how much he’s got left in the tank as he discussed his retirement. The British Formula One superstar told the crowd at the United States Grand Prix when he was thinking of stepping away from the track.
Lewis Hamilton has revealed when he will retire while speaking to crowds in Austin ahead of the United States GPCredit: The Mega Agency
Hamilton was speaking in Austin ahead of this evening’s race when he began discussing life after F1.
He said: “What happens after racing? After your career, you know?
“Because you spend so much time focusing on your career to be the best you can be, most often you haven’t prepared for what’s after. But it’s okay – I’m ready.”
Fans listening in began to react in shock after they thought that Hamilton had said he was ready to move on from the sport.
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But the 38-year-old was quick to correct himself and ensure them he’s sticking around for a few more years.
“Well I’m not ready, but like I’m ready [prepared]! I think I’ve got another five years left in me,” he explained.
F1 fanatics in the crowd went wild at the admission from the star and were overjoyed with the idea of seeing Hamilton race well into his 40s.
The Mercedes driver began life on the F1 track back in 2008 and has been one of the sport’s greatest names ever since.
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He has won seven World Championships, a feat only matched by the great Michael Schumacher, and seems as if he is keen to get hold of that elusive eighth.
But for now he must focus on trying to snatch second place in this years’ standings off Sergio Perez after Max Verstappen wrapped up his third consecutive title in Qatar.
Hamilton is currently third in the Formula One standingsCredit: Alamy
Max Verstappen can put his feet up after winning the World Championship with FIVE Grand Prix’s still to comeCredit: The Mega Agency More

FORMULA ONE drivers are furious they could now be fined up to a million euros for breaking the sport’s rules after the FIA QUADRUPLED their maximum punishment.The ruling came into effect after a World Motorsport Council meeting in Geneva on Thursday – led by FIA President, Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
Lewis Hamilton says he’d only pay a big fine if it went to a good causeCredit: Rex
Hamilton was fined heavily after an early smash with George RussellCredit: Rex
It comes after a series of punishments were dished out to drivers in the Qatar Grand Prix.
Lewis Hamilton was slapped with a €50,000 fine (43.5k), of which half was suspended, for crossing the live race track following his first-lap smash with Mercedes teammate George Russell.
And the seven-time world champion was stunned to learn of the new maximum penalty that picky stewards could now dish out.
And he says he will REFUSE to pay it unless it goes towards a good cause.
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He said: “We do need to be thinking about the message that sends out to those watching. If they are going to be fined a million, let’s make sure 100 percent goes to a good cause.
“It is a lot of money in this industry and there is a lot more we need to do in terms of creating better accessibility and diversity, that’s the only way they’ll get that million from me.”
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc added: “It’s a huge amount of money. I have no idea what deserves a 1m euros penalty, some drivers are making less than that.”
Haas driver Kevin Magnussen said it was “ridiculous” and AlphaTauri’s Daniel Ricciardo labelled it “scary.”
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Meanwhile, Russell who is director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association was stunned to learn of the news via a question in the press conference ahead of the US Grand Prix.
The FIA had not consulted drivers that the maximum penalty was being raised from €250,000 and there is now a fear they will start hitting them in their wallets.
He said: “I think it’s pretty ridiculous that a driver could be fined a million Euros.
“In my first year in F1, I was on a five-figure salary and actually lost over six figures in that first year paying for a trainer, flights, an assistant and that’s probably the case for 25 percent of the grid.
“We are doing what we love, so not complaining about that but if you fine him a million, I don’t know what’s going to happen.
“We’ve requested before from FIA to hear where these fines are going towards, what causes. It needs to be invested in grassroots but so far had no response on where that’s going.
“I would love to get some clarity and transparency, if they truly believe a million fine is worthwhile and going to reinvest into sport, then maybe one of the drivers who earns a lot is happy to pay that, but it seems obscene.
“We just want transparency and understanding. I think already the fines are getting out of control.
“Max Verstappen was fined €50,000 for touching a car in Brazil, Lewis being fined €50,000…it feels like these numbers are being plucked out of the air.
“There’s a lot greater global issues going on and so much poverty around the world how can a federation make up these fines?
For me, it sounds obscene and there needs to be a lot more transparency about where these fines are going.George Russell
“I don’t know what you have to do to get a fine of million euros, I don’t know of any sport or profession outside of the corporate world where you can be fined that amount.
“For me, it sounds obscene and there needs to be a lot more transparency about where these fines are going.
“There needs to be a much better dialogue between FIA and drivers.”
The FIA point out that while the previous limit was €250,000, no offence had been deemed worthy of issuing the maximum penalty.
Meanwhile, Hamilton says that he does not believe he is being singled out by the penalty he picked up in Qatar.
Hamilton has also recently been the subject of a jewellery ban by the FIA, which had resulted in him being granted a medical exception for a nose stud.
However, there was some confusion that the FIA would re-open their investigation into walking across the track following a clunky-worded statement.
He added: “No, I don’t think I was singled out. Ultimately it was poor communication, I don’t think what the FIA said is what they meant.
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“I think they are going to look into how they can tackle those things [crossing a track] moving forwards, so those things don’t happen.
“We need to make sure we are continuously focusing on safety, the FIA just need to speak to their PR agent to do a better job.” More

LEWIS HAMILTON has hinted at a possible career change with boss Toto Wolff.Hamilton and Wolff have worked together since 2013, yielding record-breaking success in F1.
Lewis Hamilton and Toto Wolff have enjoyed a record-breaking relationshipCredit: PA
Hamilton has hinted at ‘changes’ in the coming monthsCredit: Rex
Wolff and Hamilton have business partnerships away from F1Credit: Getty
However, at the age of 38, Hamilton may feel his racing days could soon be behind him.
He has a contract with Mercedes until 2025, but has continued to expand his portfolio into a number of business ventures.
Many of these have come with help from Wolff.
And Hamilton suggested their partnerships could make some changes over the next few months.
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As quoted by Speedcafe, Hamilton said: “Toto and I are in contact every week, all the time. We’re good friends, very, very good friends, we’re team-mates.
“We do a lot of talking about cars, we hang out when I’m back home, we have lunch.
“I’m always trying to learn from Toto as a businessman, and he’s always massively supportive. You’re going to see some things shift over the next couple of months, into next year maybe.
“You’ve already seen my progress, and he has been such a huge part of that, being open-minded and allowing me to be who I am.
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“Together we’ve unlocked so much, and we’ve done so much more than I think any other partnership that you’ve seen in this sport on many levels.”
Wolff has been absent from the last two races after undergoing surgery on a cruciate ligament.
However, this did not stop Wolff from being involved in race weekends.
Hamilton said: “Toto’s in every meeting. And he’s on the comms, just like the guys back at the factory are on the comms for strategy over the weekend.
“He’s still 100 per cent fully a part (of the team). He’s just not physically there in the country.
“He’s worked incredibly hard to set up this team to be where it is today, and he should be able to have weekends off without a problem. He’s the boss.
“Shoot, if I owned the team, I’d definitely take weekends off. That’s your prerogative. It’s not that he’s taking the weekend off but you know what I mean.
“He has the right to if he wanted to, but it’s just because he’s recovering.
“I just always tell him, ‘Don’t worry, you’ve set up a great team, and we’ll try and do you proud this weekend’, and that’s what I do.”
Wolff certainly would have not wanted to see Hamilton crash out on lap one after trying to overtake George Russell on the first turn on the Qatar GP.
Addressing the crash in public for the first time, Wolff said: “The last round in Qatar was a case of what might have been.
“As a team, you never want to see your cars collide. It was frustrating to leave a lot of points on the table, particularly as the pace of the car was strong.
“It was encouraging though to see how the drivers and the team reacted. Both Lewis and George know the team comes first and do not ever intend to jeopardise that.
“I am sure we will all grow from this moment. We’re now focused on Austin and making sure we get the most out of each upcoming weekend.”
Hamilton was slapped with an FIA fine for walking across the track after his crash.
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The FIA are now “revisiting” the incident in light of his “role model status”.
Hamilton and Co will be in action once again at next weekend’s America GP in Austin, Texas.
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LEWIS HAMILTON fears that his Mercedes will “bounce for the rest of the year” in a blow to the seven-time world champion.The 38-year-old is third in the Formula One driver standings, only behind Red Bull duo Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez.
Lewis Hamilton is third in the driver standingsCredit: Rex
The Mercedes star continues to have issues with his carCredit: Reuters
Mercedes have shown signs of life this season, having largely put the porpoising that plagued their 2022 season behind them.
According to Hamilton, however, the issue hasn’t completely gone away.
The Brit said: “This car is going to bounce for the rest of the year.
“But I feel optimistic for next year that it won’t be a characteristic on the car.
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“It comes and goes – some races it isn’t bouncing and some races it is. But it is nowhere near as hardcore as when we had it [last year].”
Earlier this season, Silver Arrows boss Toto Wolff vowed to provide Hamilton and team-mate George Russell with a “more reliable car” in 2024.
He said: “Our season didn’t really start well in Bahrain, but I think over the last races we’ve been able to comprehend the car a little bit better.
“And the race for P2 is really tight between Aston Martin, Ferrari, McLaren, and ourselves.
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“Now it’s really focusing on what we need to do in order to be winning championships again.”
He then added: “Positives are we clearly see some development routes that function. We understand where we need to add performance.
“It’s a frustrating process because it takes time to change the car fundamentally, the concept and aerodynamics. But there is definitely light at the end of the tunnel.”
Further quizzed about what his team need to do better, Wolff continued: “Main areas of improvement is just about giving the drivers a more reliable car.
“It’s not about absolute amount of downforce but it’s just for them to know the car is going to be stable when they come into the corner, which isn’t the case at the moment.”
Hamilton and Co will be back in action in Texas this weekend.
Toto Wolff has vowed to provide his drivers with a ‘more reliable’ car in 2024Credit: Getty More