Lewis Hamilton has dismissed claims that he might walk away from Formula 1 at the end of 2023 if Mercedes fails to provide him with a competitive enough car.
Although Mercedes endured a more positive testing period than it did last year, Hamilton believes the German team will be behind Red Bull in the battle for victory at the season-opening race in Bahrain this weekend.
There has been plenty of speculation surrounding Hamilton’s future in F1 since pre-season concluded, with the British driver entering the final year of his contract in 2023.
Former World Champions Damon Hill and Jenson Button have both suggested over the past week that the seven-time title winner may be reluctant to sign an extension if his W14 car lacks the competitiveness to fight for the championship.
Asked if he was concerned that this could be his final season in the sport if Mercedes can’t deliver a race-winning package, Hamilton argued that rumours concerning his future were nonsense.
“Not at all. It’s ultimately… people creating rumours without facts. It’s never helpful. And you would have thought they would have both known by now. I’ve been with Mercedes since I was 13,” he said.
“Having a difficult year we had last year, still here, whether or not we have a difficult year this year, I’ll still be here. I’m a fighter, and we fight as a team.
“I love the challenge of finding solutions and trying to, I still believe I’m able to put the car in places that others are perhaps not able to, and I love that challenge.”
“Of course I wish that we start the season with a great car. But it’s the journey I think that really counts. So there is no hold up with our contract. I’ve always been very, very relaxed. I don’t feel like I’ve got to get it done right this second. I’m in a very fortunate position.
“It’ll get done when we’re ready. I have a great relationship with Toto and Mercedes, and we fully support each other. I’m really excited about the future together.
“I’m really proud of the work that we’re doing on and off the track, and the potential things we can do going forward. We’ll get there,” the British driver added.
Following on from previous defeats to Button and Nico Rosberg, Hamilton was beaten by a team-mate over a season for only the third time in his F1 career last year.
George Russell finished two places higher in the standings than his more experienced partner and claimed Mercedes’ solitary victory of the year by edging out Hamilton in Brazil.
While Russell stands to represent the future of the Mercedes team, Hamilton suggested that the internal competition between them has only been a positive for the progression of the Brackley-based outfit.
“I felt Valtteri [Bottas] was young… But I think it’s always positive, not just with George but we’ve got so many new people within the team,” he considered.
“Whether it’s here in the garage seeing new faces or back in the factory with new recruits coming through all the time. New blood, new ideas, new enthusiasm is always good to have.
“George is only in his second year with the team and massively enthusiastic and talented and hungry to push for wins, and we need that. We need both people pushing forward, so that’s a positive,” Hamilton concluded.
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