Lewis Hamilton reckons he can race until at least the age of 38 – the same age seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher was when he first hung up his racing helmet, though later returned for three relatively unsuccessful seasons with Mercedes.
Hamilton has never expressed a desire to beat Schumacher's tally of seven titles, but looks like the most likely driver to be capable of such a feat given his current tally of five and his strong start to the 2019 season, which has seen him win four of the first six grands prix.
But the Briton hinted that he would now aim to beat Schumacher's record, insisting he has at least five more years in him, which would see him racing until 2023.
"Michael retired when he was 38. I’m 33. In my mind I can definitely do five years," Hamilton told David Letterman in a new Netflix series called My Next Guest Needs No Introduction.
“I am ridiculously determined to win. What really drives me, and I feel that somewhat the people I race against may lack, is that fire.
“I’ve got this opportunity. I could easily let go of it right now but I feel like I would be squandering it if I didn’t continue to improve, grow and push.
“I’ve got to keep going for as long as I can basically – until I’m not enjoying it.”
Hamilton's current Mercedes deal runs through to 2020 and would therefore require a three-year extension, unless he decides to switch teams seeking a new challenge, although that seems unlikely given his repeated desire to remain at the Anglo-German outfit.
