Lewis Hamilton has opened up on his retirement conversations (Image: Getty)
Lewis Hamilton is set to leave Mercedes at the end of the year in favour of joining Ferrari.
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton has revealed that he has held talks with several sporting icons to discuss his future. The Brit is keen to ensure that he does not retire from Formula One prematurely as he begins to reach the twilight of his career.
Lewis Hamilton is among one of the most recognised sportsmen in the world, and his legacy looks set to stretch markedly further than the confines of the F1 sphere. The 39-year-old has hinted over the past few years that he is keen to conquer other industries and make an even wider impact, having already divulged into the world of fashion.
Music and movies are among the alternative avenues that Hamilton has been tipped to dip his toe into, as well as slotting into a senior role at a top team – with Mercedes previously expected to secure his services beyond his time on the grid.
However, after it was announced that Hamilton will join Ferrari in 2025 and fulfil his dream of competing for the Italian outfit, the prospect of retirement is not a primary thought for the seven-time world champion.
Speaking to the GQ magazine, Hamilton did admit that he has spoken in detail about when he will walk away from the sport with some of the most recognised sportspeople in the world. He explained: “I’d spoken to so many amazing athletes, from Boris Becker to Serena Williams, even Michael Jordan.
“Talking to greats that I’ve met along the way, who are retired – or some that are still in competition – and the fear of what’s next, the lack of preparation for what’s next. A lot of them said: ‘I stopped too early.’ Or: ‘Stayed too long.’ ‘When it ended, I didn’t have anything planned.’ ‘My whole world came crashing down because my whole life has been about that sport.’
“Some of them were like: ‘I didn’t plan and it was a bit of a mess-up because I was really lost afterwards. There was such a hole. Such a void. And I had no idea how I was going to fill it. And I was in such a rush initially to try and fill it that you fill it with the wrong thing. And you make a few mistakes. And then eventually you find your way.’ Some people took longer.
“Some people took shorter. But it just got my mind thinking about: OK, when I stop, how do I avoid that? And so I got serious about finding other things that I was passionate about.” It remains to be seen whether Hamilton’s conversations with the aforementioned stars prompts the Mercedes star to map out his retirement in advance to his adoring fans.
