Lewis Hamilton Addresses “Abrupt” Retirement After Mercedes’ Disappointing 2023 Season

Remember the 2022 F1 season? Lewis Hamilton was super low throughout the whole season after the 2021 championship slipped from his hands in a controversial Abu Dhabi GP. Adding to the misery was the W13 that never lived up to the expectations as Hamilton had to see Verstappen take another championship without any competition. George Russell beating Hamilton in the driver’s championship was another blow for the 7X champ. 

Many people questioned Hamilton’s retirement after the 2021 shock and the 2022 disappointment. Nonetheless, Hamilton didn’t back down and kept pushing and finished P3 in the 2023 drivers championship after some amazing drivers. Seems like the old Hamilton is back. However, finishing P3 isn’t enough for Lewis as he eyes his 8th championship. He advised the same when he signed his latest contract with Mercedes as he talked about having some unfinished business to take care of.

While Hamilton did sign the contract, it didn’t stop rumors of retirement after a disappointing 2023 season from spreading across the paddock like fire. Hamilton has now come out to address these sudden retirement rumors. The LH army will be pleased to know that Hamilton still has that fire inside him and plans to continue racing in the near future. However, he hasn’t denied the possibility of an abrupt end in the future. 

According to Auto Motor und Sport, Lewis Hamilton said, “I can’t say, I really have no idea. It can be abrupt and I’m suddenly gone. Or I slip into a different role. But at the moment I still love racing too much. And if it’s just the moment when the engine starts with all the people around, and then when you roll down the pit lane, I still have a smile on my face, like the first day I drove a race car. When that doesn’t happen to me anymore, I know it’s time to stop. I hope that never happens. But there may also come a day when I want to put my energy into something else.”

Read More: “Changes I Asked For Weren’t Done”: Lewis Hamilton Voices 9-Month Old Concerns, Blasting Toto Wolff for Ignoring Tall Promises

Lewis Hamilton has a never-back-down attitude and Toto Wolff recently came out supporting his driver. What did Toto Wolff say?

“Just need to give him a car”: Toto Wolff on Lewis Hamilton’s championship fight

Christian Horner recently while explaining that Hamilton contacted Red Bull for a seat situation advised how Hamilton hasn’t won a race in two years. However, Toto Wolff recently suggested that if Mercedes are able to provide Hamilton a competitive car then he’ll surely be competing for a championship. The 7X champ comes alive when he sees the opportunity for a win or a championship. 

According to PlanetF1, Toto Wolff said, “If we are able to give him a car then he will be fighting for a World Championship. I have no doubt. It’s clear that when you have an F1 car like we have now, you are never at ease with it. And you have good weekends and bad weekends. But at the end, every time when we’ve seen that Lewis has somebody in his target in front of him. and it was about winning the race, then the real Lewis comes alive, and I think we just need to give him a car.”

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For the 3rd year in a row, Hamilton & Mercedes go into the winter break with disappointment. They will certainly look to overturn this trend for 2024. However, it is crucial for the same that they start the season by getting that all-important jump in performance & catch up with Red Bull. Do you think, the Brackley-team can do so?