Lewis Hamilton has just inked a contract extension with Mercedes and, apart from the reported $200-million he will bank for the two-season deal, the 38-year-old aims to dethrone Red Bull as well as win an eighth title.
In fact, Hamilton, who will be with Mercedes until he is 40, even revealed he is already thinking of an extension beyond this extension! He told Sky F1: "The goal within those two years is 100 per cent to be fighting and win a world championship.
"We are second in the constructors' championship right now and we want to dethrone those who are at the top. I have 100 percent faith that we can do that," insisted Hamilton, who has not won a Grand Prix since 2021, and is amid the leanest patch in his illustrious F1 career.
"In terms of long-term, I'm thinking about my next contract - what that will look like, how long that will be. I plan to be here for a while. But it could change. I could come back next year and be like 'damn it'. Who knows?" added Hamilton, providing himself with a 'joker' should he need to play it.
In other words, if the 2026 car (new regs) is good he will stay and go for F1 title number eight, but if it's another Merc-plonker he can walk, which Hamilton explained best: "You never know where you are going to be in life but right now I'm very focused on staying positive every day. I know that's not easy for anyone.
"Staying fit and healthy and trying to find that balance of enjoying yourself and your work - balance with family life and all those sort of things. I think I've got a pretty decent balance right now. That's enabling me to really love what I'm doing," added Hamilton. Winning is not included of course.
And that's got to hurt a driver with 103 GP victories and seven F1 world titles. No surprise he has unfinished business, even if it keeps Hamilton at the pinnacle of the sport beyond 2025.
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