Lewis: no guarantee I'll race next year

[Dare]

I'd like to see that

https://www.yahoo.com/autos/hamilton-no-guarantee-ill-racing-155733190.html

[Jericoke]

It would be a great way to 'control the narrative' to step away at the top of his game, with the perception of unfinished business.  He'd certainly go into discussions as the perennial 'what if', especially when the next driver matches his 7 championships.

I like having Hamilton in F1.  A lot of drivers are scared to offend, scared to put a foot wrong.  Others just don't care.  Hamilton is on that fine line where he cares very much, but isn't scared either.

For sure, he's earned that with his winning ways, so there isn't really an heir apparent to someone who can have that sort of attitude.  Maybe Alonso.  I think the Albon could follow in Hamilton's footsteps personality wise, but I don't think he's going to get the opportunity to fulfill his skill.

[cosworth151]

I really can't see him moving to another team where he'd have a car that couldn't come close to Mercedes.

"Well we're in November, and I'm still, it's crazy that we're… Christmas isn't that far away," Hamilton said. "Naturally, I feel great, I feel still very strong, I feel I can keep going for plenty of months."

Any bets what Bottas wants for Christmas? 

[rmassart]

I would love to see Hamilton and either Verstappen or Leclerc in the same team, before Hamilton retires. Don't care which team... They are the two young pretenders in my view and I am really curious if either can give Hamilton a run for his money!  Get rid of Bottas and put Verstappen in his place for example.

[Willy]

He is at the top of his game and they say that is when you should step away.
He will always have the unanswered question over his head if he does.
I want him to stay if only to erase the Schumacher name from the top of the driver's championship list.

[jimclark]

He is at the top of his game and "they" say that is when you should step away.
He will always have the unanswered question over his head if he does.
I want him to stay if only to erase the Schumacher name from the top of the driver's championship list.

"They" should just concern "themselves" with decisions about their own lives.
Who is anybody to determine for someone else when the "right" time to stop doing what they enjoy doing?  That is only projecting what is right for "them"selves...... 

How does one determine what question is on the mind of another? 

I would like to see it also......but does Lewis feel the need? 

'Two extremes......Nico and Kimi...... They both "appear" (key word of course....'don't know them personally) to be content with their decisions regarding their F1 careers.....

[Jericoke]

He is at the top of his game and "they" say that is when you should step away.
He will always have the unanswered question over his head if he does.
I want him to stay if only to erase the Schumacher name from the top of the driver's championship list.

"They" should just concern "themselves" with decisions about their own lives.
Who is anybody to determine for someone else when the "right" time to stop doing what they enjoy doing?  That is only projecting what is right for "them"selves...... 

How does one determine what question is on the mind of another? 

I would like to see it also......but does Lewis feel the need? 

'Two extremes......Nico and Kimi...... They both "appear" (key word of course....'don't know them personally) to be content with their decisions regarding their F1 careers.....

Wouldn't it be fantastic if we could just stop doing our jobs because we don't enjoy it?

While I agree being gossipy about things we don't truly understand is a little unseemly, you have to keep in mind that being a star athlete (which F1 drivers are) means being in the public spotlight, subject to public scrutiny.  You could even say that their job isn't to win races, rather to be talked about, to keep their sponsors in the public eye.  So as long as Lewis is racing, he's being paid his whatever millions so that people who have no idea what they're talking about can talk about it.  I mean there's only so many times we can talk about how well he took turn 8 on lap 27 before we have to talk about something else.

[rmassart]

I mean there's only so many times we can talk about how well he took turn 8 on lap 27 before we have to talk about something else.

Turn 9? 

[Andy B]

As he has no contract I believe its a bargaining tool and only time will reveal the truth.
But then what do I know? 

[jimclark]

Wouldn't it be fantastic if we could just stop doing our jobs because we don't enjoy it?

No, not "wouldn't it'.....anyone can. You determine you're fate. 

[John S]

My feeling is Lewis only wants one more year on his contract at present and then decide if he wants to continue later on next year.

Mercedes want at least 2, possibly 3, years to see them into the new aero regs era. A one year deal from lewis leaves them with only the one choice to sign Bottas for at least two years to keep an experienced pilot in new 2022 chassis when the competition might start to hot up.

This talk of hanging up his overalls is a way of signalling he's becoming unhappy with the longer term vision. If he does one more year and gets another WDC what is there left to prove after that?

Sure if he's in a longer term deal he can always walk away like Nico did at the end of the season, but I think he wants to avoid any penalty payment if he does that.

 

[lkjohnson1950]

Wouldn't it be fantastic if we could just stop doing our jobs because we don't enjoy it?

No, not "wouldn't it'.....anyone can. You determine you're fate. 

In the abstract this may be true, but in reality with paying the rent, putting food on the table, caring for family, I'm sure most of us feel trapped, unable to quit without endangering those we are responsible for.

[jimclark]

Wouldn't it be fantastic if we could just stop doing our jobs because we don't enjoy it?

No, not "wouldn't it'.....anyone can. You determine you're fate. 

In the abstract this may be true, but in reality with paying the rent, putting food on the table, caring for family, I'm sure most of us feel trapped, unable to quit without endangering those we are responsible for.

My bad..... 
I guess I was a bit "short" with my response. I didn't mean just quit.....rather, one can prep oneself and transition to something enjoyable.

I have a feeling Lewis won't just sit on his butt......I believe he's a bit more motivated than that.

[Andy B]

I now have the best job I ever had!
Retirement but if you want a good one you need to plan for it early in your working life.

[jimclark]