Our sport has never seen a driver like Lewis Hamilton before. Even though the 38-year-old has been nowhere near the top step of the podium for over a year now, still he garners the maximum amount of attention from his fans, critics, and media alike. It may come as just a product of being a 7-time champion, but it has led to a lot of questions being posed to the Brit about his imminent future.

With Mercedes struggling and no quick respite in sight, all eyes are squarely on Hamilton now. What does he do next? It has been proposed before that he might quit. There have even been rumors about the lad from Stevenage looking to ditch the Silver Arrows for the likes of Ferrari. With everything going on though, Hamilton seems to have taken a lesson from the $39 million mistake Fernando Alonso made by jumping ship to McLaren in a desperate bid to claim that elusive 8th title.

Will Lewis Hamilton suffer the same fate as Fernando Alonso?

Anthony Davidson who does the simulator work for the Brackley-based team and is a Sky Sports F1 pundit was quoted by Evening Standard as saying, “He mustn’t have a knee-jerk reaction like Alonso in the past, which hasn’t worked out well for him until now,” while reiterating the importance of a calm decision-making process. But then what will Hamilton do?

According to Davidson, “I’d be very surprised if he joined another team. He’s been with Mercedes since his karting days. He’d be getting to that age where he’d be thinking about an exit plan and what to do with the rest of his life. He could be a Mercedes ambassador for all time.”

“Put it this way, I’d be more surprised to see him change teams than walk away. But he says it with some conviction that he will carry on until he gets that eighth title.”

Read More: Glimmer of Hope for Ferrari as Lewis Hamilton Rumored to Ditch Mercedes to Fulfill Long Cherished Dream: “Don’t See This Story Petering Out”

With all the white noise surrounding Hamilton’s future, the 7x champ has decided to directly address the elephant in the room.

Hamilton gives his final verdict on his future with Mercedes

Hamilton has been tipped to do either of two things. He either leaves F1 completely or chooses to find a seat elsewhere. But if we know anything about him, it is that he does not conform to what people expect of him.

He was quick to dismiss both the options presented to him. He told RacingNews365, “I love this team. I’m so grateful for everyone that’s been on the journey with me with this team, I don’t envisage being anywhere else. I don’t see myself quitting, I don’t feel like I’m a quitter,” by RacingNews365.com.

Watch this story: Lewis Hamilton Jumps Off a Plane Amidst His Mental Health Woes

Can Hamilton be taken at face value? Or is he hiding something we all fear?