LEWIS HAMILTON has hinted he could retire from Formula One within the next three years.
The Mercedes driver wrapped up the fourth World Drivers’ Championship of his career at the Mexican Grand Prix three weeks ago.
And this Sunday he’ll be looking to add gloss to that achievement when the 2017 season concludes at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit.
Hamilton is contracted at Mercedes until the end of the 2018 campaign and can go level with Juan Manuel Fangio on five titles next year.
Michael Schumacher is F1’s all-time most successful driver and Hamilton has been tipped to chase down his record of seven championships.
Schumacher leads the way in terms of race wins too and is currently 29 ahead of Hamilton on 91 victories.
Speaking ahead of this weekend’s meet in the United Arab Emirates though, Hamilton has suggested he could quit the sport before he can overhaul Schumacher.
“It’s not a goal [Schumacher’s race wins record],” Hamilton said during an interview with Belgian news agency Sporza.
“It will depend how long I’m racing, but at the moment I do not think I’ll be racing long enough to improve that record.
“In my best years I win up to 10 races, which means that I would have to continue for at least another three years with a competitive car.”
F1 champion Hamilton has an unassailable 43-point lead over Ferrari man Sebastian Vettel going into this weekend’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix having won nine races this term.
Source: The express