Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton not close to ‘final chapter’ - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton not close to ‘final chapter’

Agence France-Presse, London | ByAgence France-Presse
Mar 18, 2018 10:07 PM IST

Lewis Hamilton is reportedly ready to sign a new contract with Mercedes which could earn him up to £40 million per year and solidify his position as British sport’s highest earner.

Lewis Hamilton has vowed to reign supreme in Formula One for years to come as the world champion prepares for the start of the new season next weekend.

Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel start the Formula One season within touching distance of further greatness. A fifth world title would move one of them level with Juan Manuel Fangio and second only to Michael Schumacher’s seven.(AP)
Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel start the Formula One season within touching distance of further greatness. A fifth world title would move one of them level with Juan Manuel Fangio and second only to Michael Schumacher’s seven.(AP)

British star Hamilton is reportedly ready to sign a new contract with Mercedes, which could earn him up to £40 million ($55 million) per year and solidify his position as British sport’s highest earner.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

READ | Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel chasing 5th F1 title to match Juan Manuel Fangio

That would be the ideal preparation for Sunday’s season opener in Melbourne as Hamilton eyes a fifth world championship.

Along with Michael Schumacher and Juan Manuel Fangio, he would be only the third F1 driver to have won the title more than four times.

Even that historic feat wouldn’t be enough for Hamilton to walk away from the sport however.

“It doesn’t feel like the start of the final chapter, and I don’t feel as though I am about to embark on my last contract,” Hamilton said.

“I am not sure how I will feel in two or three years’ time but I am back here in March for my 12th season and I am so excited.

“I don’t know where it comes from - this feeling of just wanting to excel - but I really, really, more than anything currently in my life, want to excel next weekend.

READ | Formula One: New faces, returning races and hello to halo in 2018 F1 season

“I want to arrive in Melbourne fit. I want to hit my target weight. I want to kill it through practice, get pole position and I want to win the race convincingly.

“I don’t know how long this feeling is going to last when I go into a new season, but as long as I am still feeling like this I will keep going.”

Hamilton won last year’s championship with two races to spare.

But he kept a low profile over the winter following criticism he received for comments he made in an Instagram video about his young nephew wearing a princess dress.

Hamilton embarked on a mass deleting spree across both his Instagram and Twitter accounts - of which he has a combined 12 million followers - in the wake of the backlash.

READ | New engine doesn’t end McLaren F1 team’s woes in Formula One preseason

“Everyone has an opinion about everything,” Hamilton said. “The world is moving drastically and no-one is perfect.

“We have a pie chart of our brand, what it means and we are constantly evolving that.

“I am working with my team to figure out how we get our message across of where we have come from.

“For example, what we have done as a working-class family is very different to a story of another racing driver.”

Catch all the Latest IPL 2024 news and Live Cricket Score along with WPL Schedule and WPL Points Table related updates on Hindustan Times Website and APPs
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On